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

"Police on streets in São Paulo near stadium ahead of tonight's opener between Brazil and Croatia. Watching on as small protest takes place near subway. "There will not be a World Cup" reads the protestors sign.

"But then the situation near subway soon changes. Police charge protestors. No tear gas but series of flash bangs. One man arrested."

Robbie Savage
BBC Radio 5 live

Former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage is heading to the World Cup as part of the BBC team.

He doesn't expect England to take up much of his punditry time however, predicting that Roy Hodgson's side will be heading home before the knock-out phases.

"I think they will win one and draw two but will go out on goal difference," he told BBC News School Reporters from Ormesby School in Middlesbrough.

But who would Robbie most like to manage of the World Cup teams? And which Barcelona attack would he most like to play like? It isn't Lionel Messi by the way...

Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton says Brazil striker Neymar is not ready to perform at the same level of the some of the game's top players.

"I've been critical of him in the past saying he is a while away from being a Messi or Ronaldo - but this is his chance," Barton tells BBC Radio 5 live's Rio Report.

"I personally don't think he's ready. It may be a little early in his trajectory. He had a great time in the Confederations Cup but as we can see, this isn't a Confederations Cup."

Want to hear more from Barton (or Dan Walker if Joey isn't your cup of tea)? Click the glitzy 'Live Coverage' tab at the top of this page.

Uefa president Michel Platini says he has withdrawn his support to Fifa president Sepp Blatter.

Blatter, 78, indicated he wants to seek a fifth term and called Uefa "disrespectful" following calls for his resignation. He has been widely criticised over the damage corruption allegations have caused football's governing body.

"I am supporting him no longer, it's finished," says Platini. "He knows it, I told him. I think Fifa needs a new breath of fresh air."

Image source, THEFA/TWITTER

The FA:, external On the plane and we're ready to go - next stop Manaus to meet Italy on Saturday.

Former England striker Alan Shearer says he is "hopeful" but "not expectant" about the Three Lions' World Cup chances.

Shearer, who scored twice for his country at the 1998 World Cup, adds he would pick Liverpool's Raheem Sterling over Everton rival Ross Barkley in the starting line-up to face Italy on Saturday.

"I just want to see us improve," Shearer tells BBC Radio 5 live's Rio Report. "I want to see us attack. I want to see us play with a bit of pace and passion. "Do I think we can win it? No, I don't. If we can get to a quarter-final in an attack-minded way, I think that's pretty good."

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

Ben Smith
BBC Sport in Sao Paolo

"The weather here is cool and overcast and we have been warned to leave two hours to cover the eight or so miles to the stadium a little later on because the traffic is expected to be awful. It's a national holiday here in Sao Paulo, as it is in many parts of Brazil, and that's for one reason and one reason only, so people can watch their team play Croatia later on.

"Outside my hotel window helicopters are buzzing around and Brazilian TV is, as you would expect, wall-to-wall football build-up. It promises to be quite a day... "

Devastated Russ, Welwyn, via text: Just spent two and a half hours converting the spare room into my own personal World Cup den. The wife then casually mentioned "The TV in there stopped working months ago". Divorce.

Oh dear. There's our first divorce-paper citing. Come on Russ - remember a wife is for life, not just a World Cup.

• England send 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.

• Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is recovering so well from a medial ligament strain that he is exhausting the medical staff charged with overseeing his recovery, according to fellow England midfielder James Milner.

• Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb suggests any team or individual found guilty of racist offences could be thrown out of the tournament.

Former Chelsea manager and AC Milan midfielder Carlo Ancelotti tells the Italian team to believe in their chances of winning the World Cup.

Cesare Prandelli's side go into Saturday's opener against England in unconvincing form, having drawn against the Republic of Ireland and Luxembourg.

But Real Madrid coach Ancelotti reckons anything is possible for the four-time World Cup winners if they stick together.

"People are sceptical about our chances, and do not believe in us. Well, I can guarantee that if the team and the coaching staff stay united and all read from the same page, then the atmosphere will become more favourable, and results are more likely to go our way," says Ancelotti in a letter published in La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport in Rio de Janeiro

"Flags, shirts, bells and whistles. A sure sign that the World Cup is about to start is the huge increase in souvenir sellers pitching their goods as you stroll down the Copacabana today. The sand sculptures all have a football theme too.

"There are more fans here now too. The South Americans were out in force on Wednesday night with Argentina and Colombia fans playing beach ball and dancing until dusk, but this morning you can see more and more supporters from all over the world, proudly wearing shirts of clubs and country, emerging bleary eyed into the bright Rio sunshine.

"Not all of them have tickets, including Terry, the West Ham fan pictured. He is here for two weeks and desperate to get to a game - the sign he has round his neck reads "need a ticket, thanks". I think there are plenty of others in the same boat."

BBC Radio 5 live

A quick reminder that BBC Radio 5 live's first Rio Report has just kicked off. Listen to Dan Walker, Alan Shearer and the rest of the gang, live from the Copacabana beach, by clicking the 'Live Coverage' tab at the top of this page.

Croatian tennis star Marin Cilic suffered a first-round defeat to Marinko Matosevic at Queen's on Tuesday, but he is back representing his nation on the tournament's fussball table ahead of tonight's big kick-off.

Image source, Stako_tennis

England defender Phil Jagielka does not think Italy's experience of playing in the humidity of northern Brazil gives their Group D opponents an advantage in Saturday's opener in Manaus.

The Azzurri took part in last year's Confederations Cup, which included games in Recife and Fortaleza.

"Obviously they have had the experience of playing in these conditions but that's what our week-long training camp in Miami was about, to try and play in similar conditions," says the England defender.

BBC Radio 5 live

There are going to be plenty of samba-backed goals compilations over the next four and a bit weeks as television and radio producers plunder whatever they can find to inject a little local flavour into the mix.

They will have to go some to match Just Like Hearing Brazil. Going out on 5 live at 15:00 BST, it has Jonathan Overend selecting the best of the host team's goal back catalogue while 6 Music's Gilles Peterson picks the tunes.

Here is a bit of behind-the-scenes footage of the programme being put together.

Bob Mayat:, external Anybody suggest England use Phil Jones in a defensive role to man mark Pirlo? Did ever so well marking Ronaldo a year back.

Image source, Getty Images

Cast your minds back to that balmy Saturday evening (in the UK anyway) on 12 June, 2010. England was awash with expectant optimism ahead of the World Cup after Fabio Capello's side had cruised through to South Africa with an almost-flawless qualifying campaign.

Ninety minutes after the Three Lions kicked off against the USA, that enthusiasm had disappeared quicker than a crate of lager at one of the many World Cup parties across the country.

England goalkeeper Robert Green's error handed the United States an equaliser as England drew their World Cup Group C opener 1-1 in Rustenberg.

Where will you be watching the World Cup? You have been sending in your World Cup set-ups to the hashtag #myworldcupseat., external

Shan Golding:, external This is worth a shout. Brightons' big screen on the beach showing all the wc games

Image source, Shan Golding

Time for a bit of a round-up of the day so far.

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.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is recovering so well from a medial ligament strain that he is exhausting the medical staff charged with overseeing his recovery, according to fellow England midfielder James Milner.

Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb suggests any team or individual found guilty of racist offences could be thrown out of the tournament.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Germany striker Jurgen Klinsmann will be at the World Cup as the United States head coach. Perhaps his current employers were impressed with his performance at USA 1994.

Klinsmann scored the only goal of the opening game as Germany began with a 1-0 win over Bolivia and netted another four times as his side reached the quarter-finals.