Dayle Clarke:, external Genius signing. Now just Costa deal to wrap up, along with Felipe Luis. Chelsea looking to be a formidable team next season!

David Bond
BBC Sport in Sao Paulo

"Now this is what the World Cup is about. Fans from all over heading to the Sao Paulo arena for the opening match."

New Chelsea signing Cesc Fabregas, who is with the Spain squad preparing for tomorrow's game against the Netherlands, says he chose Jose Mourinho's side over others because they matched his ambition.

"I considered all the other offers very carefully and I firmly believe that Chelsea is the best choice," he says on the Chelsea website., external

"They match my footballing ambitions with their hunger and desire to win trophies. They have an amazing squad of players and an incredible manager. I am fully committed to this team and I can't wait to start playing."

Image source, ChelseaFC

Chelsea sign midfielder Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona.

The 27-year-old joins Jose Mourinho's side on a five-year contract.

"I do feel that I have unfinished business in the Premier League and now is the right time to return," says Fabregas.

Image source, HNS_CFF

Croatia FA on Twitter: , externalWe are proud to open the World Cup vs @CBF_Futebol Pic: Niko with the team after breakfast.

Don't let the language barrier get in the way of telling opposition fans that they have fluked or cheated their way to victory.

Get involved with the via BBC Twitter account , externalwhich will be translating tweets from languages including Portuguese, Spanish, Persian, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Turkish, Hausa, Swahili and Kinyarwanda into English to get the World Cup conversation flowing around the globe., external

I'd like to teach the world to sing... a rather rude song about the referee.

Image source, Freddy Hare

Freddy Hare:, external View of Rio from where I'm staying with family friends. After all, it's not what you know.

It's not big or clever Freddy.

Richard Conway
BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent

"Just looked at camera footage from Sao Paulo protest - clear that rubber bullets fired by police on protestors along with stun grenades."

As simultaneously cringe-worthy and awe-inspiring as a Cristiano Ronaldo performance, sporting opening ceremonies are always memorable.

Brazil 2014 will be officially declared open this evening following a song-and-dance jamboree that includes, after a little wrangling, , externala performance from Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull.

Whatever the organisers have in store will have to go some to beat the wow-factor of a real, live jet-pack zooming around above the heads of the Los Angeles Olympics opening ceremony crowd in 1984.

Image source, Getty Images

Alan Shearer
BBC Sport in Rio

"Wayne Rooney will be desperate for the games to start but he will be desperate to score a goal. Wayne has 39 goals and he could and should go on to break Bobby Charlton's record, but he hasn't scored in a World Cup and that is astounding.

"He should start against Italy but then the rest is up to him. If England don't win this game, there will be two or three people who are asked questions and Wayne Rooney will be one of them."

Hear more from Shearer and other pundits on BBC Radio 5 live's Rio Report now by clicking the 'Highlights' tab at the top of this page.

England's women have had a torrid time at the Hockey World Cup in The Hague, losing all but one of their group games.

But in a result that might warm the heart of superstitious England football fans, they have won a penalty shootout against Belgium to avoid finishing last.

England's men play the Netherlands on Friday at 14.15 BST for a place in the final.

Ben Smith
BBC Sport

"Six and a half hours to kick off and the journey to the stadium begins. Strong military presence on the streets and the skies, but this taxi driver is showing there's also a mood of celebration on the streets. His car radio is blasting out the emotive Brazilian national anthem on a loop. Great stuff."

Image source, Daniel Cabral

Sao Paulo's residents - or Paulistanos - don't need KFC or Dixy's (or any other fried chicken chain). Oh no, they like to demolish plenty of coxinhas, deep-fried battered chicken snack with a Brazilian twist.

What else do you need to know about Brazil's largest and most populous city ahead of tonight's opener between Brazil and Croatia?

Luckily, BBC Brazil's Camilla Costa has offered an insider's view of the 12 cities hosting matches in this year's Fifa World Cup. Tuck in.

Three o'clock in Blighty, 11 in the morning in Rio and Sao Paulo. Time for a round-up of the day's headlines at the World Cup.

Police have broken up an apparently peaceful anti-World Cup protest in Sao Paulo with flash-bang grenades and tear gas.

Uefa president Michel Platini says that he will not support the re-election of Fifa counterpart and long-time ally Sepp Blatter.

England have sent a member of head coach Roy Hodgson's staff to inspect the pitch in Manaus after the head groundsman admitted it was in "bad shape" ahead of Saturday's meeting with Italy.

Richard Conway
BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent in Sao Paolo

Image source, @richard_conway/Twitter

"Situation had calmed again but helicopter overhead and now police let off another loud flash bang. Standoff at the subway station continuing. Didn't appear to be any particular reason for police action, protestors were peaceful and chanting."

We are asking for your pictures of where you will be spending an unhealthy chunk of the next four and a half weeks watching football. #myworldcupseat is the hashtag to get involved.

Image source, Dean Allen

Dean Allen: , externalWill be watching from the bar in my back yard!

David Bond
BBC Sport

On Uefa president Michel Platini's claim that he would not support Fifa counterpart Sepp Blatter's re-election campaign:

"Let's place it into the context of what has gone on here in Sao Paulo in the last few days where we saw a backlash from European football chiefs - including the English FA and the Netherlands. Blatter has responded to that by saying his mission isn't finished and he wants to go on.

"It's no surprise this. For sometime the relationship between Platini and Blatter has been strained. The big thing is will Platini stand next year. It's one thing to say you won't support Blatter, quite another to stand against him."

England have been making a lot of their more open, accessible camp after Fabio Capello's lock-down in 2010 in Rustenburg.

Fans Andy, Alex and Josh have shown just how open, explaining to BBC Radio 5 live how they blagged their way into the team hotel and posed for photos with Roy Hodgson and his players.

Kieran McGinley:, external Man for man: Croatia have a better attacking line up than Brazil. Defensively Brazil look better but a fairly even game surely.

So Kieran agrees with Joey Barton (see below) - are these two barking mad or does you share their thoughts? Can Croatia cause an upset in Sao Paolo tonight? Are Brazil all they are cracked up to be? You know what to do. Tweet using #bbcworldcup, text 81111 or post on our Facebook page.

Croatia can dampen the expectant mood in Brazil by shocking the hosts in tonight's World Cup opener, says Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton.

"They have some great players and the likes of Ivan Rakitic or Luka Modric - give me those over Brazil's midfielders," Barton tells BBC Radio 5 live.

"I think Croatia will make it a really difficult game. They are a good, good side. When Brazil won the World Cup in 2002 they had Rivaldo and Ronaldo, now they don't have those sort of players."

Hear more from Barton and others on BBC Radio 5 live's Rio Report right now.