We remember the 1998 FIFA World Cup as if it were yesterday. We were die-hard Brazil fans back then. They were playing France. Friends had gathered at home to watch it together. The battle lines were clearly drawn. Shouts of agony at a missed opportunity were interspersed with appreciative clapping for a slick pass. Then, Zinedine Zidane scored with a header. And a little later, he scored again. We were crestfallen. How could Brazil put up such an insipid performance? Why was Luis Ronaldo a shadow of his usual self? Why can't our insensitive friends who supported France rub the loss in our face a little less? These are the questions we were left with in the middle of the night, along with new-found admiration for Zidane, who later became the greatest playmaker of his generation.

Now, it's almost time to get the popcorn out again. The World Cup returns next week, this time in the challenging conditions of Russia. So before the ball gets rolling, both literally and metaphorically, we spoke to a cross-section of people to find out what their excitement levels are like, who they think will win this year and — the million-dollar question — when we'll see India on football's biggest stage.