Football fever catches up in India

With FIFA World Cup all set to start from today, football fever is catching up in India.

The Indian team might not have been able to qualify for the entry, but Indian football fans are making sure they support their favourite teams in full swing. From Argentina-mad West Bengal to Brazil-crazy Kerala and Portugal-loving Goa, World Cup frenzy has hit India.

The competition is yet to begin but the streets -- from slums to societies -- fans have already adorned their places with flags of their favourite footballing nations.

We bring you some interesting clicks from the by lanes of Indian cities that summarise the madness

First Match

Russia vs Saudi today at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow from 8:30pm (IST) in Sony Network

A painter applies finishing touches to an image of Argentina's soccer player Lionel Messi, on a wall

A man makes a replica of FIFA World Cup Trophy at a workshop

Boys sit on pipes in front of an image of Brazil's soccer player Neymar, painted on a wall, along a road

A man makes a replica of official mascot for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia at a workshop

Fans hang a large flag from a residential building next to a banner featuring Argentina's soccer player Lionel Messi

Kite-makers make kites with pictures of the national flags of the countries participating in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Russia, at a workshop

A boy plays in front an image of Brazil's Neymar painted on a wall in an alley at a slum

A combination picture shows boys playing soccer (top), and details of feet, a pitch and a football, in a residential area

A painter applies finishing touches to an image of Brazil's Neymar, on a large Brazilian flag on a road side wall

A boy paints a wall with the colours of Argentina's flag next to a man giving finishing touches to a cut-out of soccer player Lionel Messi after pasting it on a wall in an alley

Boys play soccer on a net-covered pitch

A painter applies finishing touches to an image of Brazil's Marcelo on a wall