Predictions for each stage of the 2018 World Cup

The excruciatingly long wait for the 2018 World Cup is a little more bearable after Friday's draw.

Now that the stage is set for next summer's competition, football supporters worldwide can spend the next seven months analysing the eight groups and predicting how events will unfold.

Here's how the tournament could - but most likely won't - play out in 2018.

Group A

Russia's World Cup experience will be short-lived when the hosts follow in the footsteps of South Africa's poor campaign in 2010 and fail to make it out the group.

Group B

The most lopsided group can't possibly produce a surprise beyond Portugal finishing above Spain.

Group C

There's little doubt who should progress as Group C winners, so the battle for second will attract the most attention. After beating New Zealand in the qualifying play-offs, Peru's Australasian assault will continue when the South Americans meet the Socceroos.

Group D

It might not be the toughest group, statistically speaking. But it's more than fair to label this the Group of Death. Despite a shaky qualifying phase, Argentina will be expected by all to top the group, while Iceland's tournament success of late will end, carving a path for Croatia.

Group E

The table should speak for itself here, really.

Group F

Mexico should emerge behind Germany and book a knockout place for the seventh consecutive World Cup.

Group G

Every cynical England supporter will dread an upset against Panama or Tunisia, but perhaps the Three Lions can draw inspiration from the country's younger generation - winners of four major tournaments in 2017 - and avoid bottling it in similar fashion to the squad that produced their worst World Cup finish (26th place) in 2014.

Group H

Although James Rodriguez will struggle to replicate the incredible form that made him a household name in 2014, Colombia's more than capable of upsetting Poland to win the group.

Round of 16

Cristiano Ronaldo's bid to win back-to-back international tournaments lives!

Croatia will have to wait for its first-ever win over France when a rematch of the semi-final match from 1998 produces a similar outcome 20 years later.

This is where Mexico's World Cup journey traditionally ends.

Poland's disappointing second-place finish in the group stage will produce an interesting encounter, but Robert Lewandowski will struggle to help his side against the supremely talented Belgians.

Egypt's 28-year absence from the World Cup won't seem so bad when it makes it out of the group stage for the first time. The campaign, however, will end with a thorough beating here.

It won't get any better than a pair of draws in CONMEBOL qualifiers for a Peru side that will again fail to secure its first win over Argentina since 1997.

Germany will just start to hit its stride in the tournament by the time Joachim Low's men obliterate Switzerland.

The quadrennial tradition of English rage is sure to follow when Colombia ends the Three Lions' campaign.

Quarter-finals

Oh, how the tables have turned. A rematch of the Euro 2016 final awaits in the quarter-finals, where France will avenge its loss on home soil last year when Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann, and Co. end Ronaldo's hopes of ever lifting the World Cup trophy.

It won't be easy, but Brazil's bid to eradicate the haunting images of 2014 will result in yet another semi-final berth when Tite's men overcome a difficult clash with Belgium.

After a strong showing, Spain's attempt to win its fourth tournament in a decade will fall short against Lionel Messi and Argentina.

The final quarter-final won't be much of a contest when Germany steamrolls Colombia.

Semi-finals

France will continue to be Brazil's Kryptonite in the World Cup when manager Didier Deschamps leads his team to victory over the country he helped dispose of in the 1998 final.

Four long years later, Argentina and Messi will get revenge for losing the 2014 final to Germany.

Final

It will be another heartbreak for Messi, however, when the Barcelona star watches his chances of lifting the World Cup trophy slip away as France beats yet another South American nation to win football's most coveted prize.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)