Football fever high among the cricket-crazy Indians

If one in two people globally will follow the FIFA World Cup starting today in South Africa, you wonder what role India's billion plus population has to play in this figure factoring. How high is football fever in cricket crazy India?

The Nielsen Global Online Survey, conducted between March 8 and March 26 2010, found that India ranks 10th in its love for football globally. "Nearly half the country (47 percent) claims to be a football fan", according to the survey. "Fifty-six percent of Indians plan to follow the game this season."

"Football is considered more edgy and more unpredictable, especially in comparison to cricket. The rough and tough image of football is quite endearing to the fans. The ninety minute game never sees a dull moment, it's quick and much to the liking of consumers who are hard pressed for time today," analyzes Nielsen India president Piyush Mathur.

"Nearly four in 10 Indians (39 percent) believe that Brazil will win the World Cup, followed by Germany at a distant second with 13 percent votes, and Argentina (11 percent) is the third candidate for Indians for a possible World Cup win."

32 national teams will battle it out to become the World Champion of football. The most soccer fanatical countries are Brazil (69 percent of the population describe themselves as "soccer fans"), Portugal (60 percent say they are "soccer fans"), Egypt (56 percent), Indonesia (54 percent), Saudi Arabia (54 percent), Spain (53 percent), Venezuela (53 percent), Vietnam (52 percent), Italy (48 per cent) and India (47 percent).