It's a simple question - but one which will all have a thought on. Which team will be getting hold of that 15-inch gold trophy on 13 July? Here's a few of your suggestions on Facebook.

Carwell Ly: I would say that Germany has a much bigger chance to win the World Cup this time!

Ethan Swithan Kalimba: Believe. ENGLAND are going to lift world cup

Wayne Charlton: England 2 Spain 1 final

Pau Ukuma: I go for BRAZIL!!!!

England's preparations have been meticulous ahead of Saturday's opener against Italy - apart from planning to play on a Manaus pitch resembling a ploughed field.

Boss Roy Hodgson is sending a member of his backroom team to inspect the surface after the head groundsman at the Arena Amazonia admitted the surface is "in bad shape". Pictures have revealed dry, brown marks across the turf.

"Frankly, Manaus is in bad shape," said Carlos Botella, head groundsman for the Royal Verd company which is responsible for the turf at Manaus. "The maintenance has been complicated."

Don't believe him? Take a look for yourself in the video at the top of this page.

Has the World Cup grown into too big an event for a single country to stage?

In light of protests over the costs of the tournament in Brazil, an editorial in the Guardian calls for future World Cups to be awarded to continents not countries.

"England meet Italy this weekend in Manaus, 1,600 miles from São Paulo: the capitals of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay are closer," it says. , external

"Give this prize to continents. That would spread the cost, reduce the corruption incentives - and spread the glory too."

Ben Jones: , externalWall-painted projector screen. Out of shot: mini-fridge. My home for the next month.

Is that a Bosnian flag top right? Impressive stuff, I hope all 32 national colours are on display...

The world and his wife are expecting Brazil to kick off the tournament in style with a thumping win against Croatia later. Everyone apart from the Croats, of course.

Former coach Igor Stimac, who also played for the nation when they finished third in France '98, reckons his former charges can dampen the mood in Rio de Janeiro.

"There is no pressure on Croatia," the ex-Derby defender tells BBC Radio 5 live. "There is only a chance for us and we have to grab it. I don't see Brazil to be honest as a top quality team at the moment. They do have top quality players. They haven't shown up that they are a good team."

Want to hear the full interview? Then, click the 'Highlights' tab at the top of this page.

We all love a bit of football-related tittle-tattle - and there are sure to be plenty of whispers around the 32 team camps. So let's have a gander at three snippets from today's World Cup gossip:

England coach Gary Neville's training plans were photographed as he left the team hotel in Brazil on Wednesday. The notes suggested England have been working on maintaining possession for their Group D opener against Italy on Saturday. (Daily Mail)

Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo, 35, says his team will keep England guessing with their midfield options. (Daily Mirror)

Croatia coach Niko Kovac insists his team will be looking to do more than just defend against Brazil in today's opening match. "Croatia never parked the bus against anyone and won't start now," he said. (Guardian)

The 2014 World Cup is an altogether different beast to the concept dreamt up by Frenchman Jules Rimet in the 1920s. The first tournament, held in 1930, had 13 teams and 18 matches. This year's edition has 32 teams and 64 matches.

With so much action, it is easy to panic. Which games do I watch? Which players should be catching my eye? Am I going to get the sack over the next three weeks for repeatedly turning up to work without getting enough sleep? These are just three of the questions we are all asking ourselves.

But don't fear. Our daily 'Today at the World Cup' piece helps you plan accordingly. This is more important to your World Cup mornings than a double espresso.

Andy Freeman on Twitter: the Mancave

Image source, @freemoso

Send us your view on the World Cup via #myworldcupseat, external

We've all got one.

If you go for the traditional - brew on the side, wallchart over the telly, snacks, supplies and remote within easy reach;

The more social - firing up the projector, the barbeque and getting some friends round;

Or the modern - more screens than Minority Report as you soak up reaction from around the social media world - today is all about securing #myworldcupseat., external

So, as well as the 'who will win the World Cup chat', Tweet us with a picture of where you will be watching the action unfold and we'll publish the best.

But all of this isn't the same without one vital ingredient - you. So get Tweeting, texting, Facebooking, even telegramming if you're old school. Whatever your preferred means of communication is, we want to hear from you.

So, let's start off with a simple question: Who is going to win the World Cup? We want to know which captain you think will be lifting up that 15in, 5kg piece of solid gold on 13 July and why.

You know the drill. Tweet #bbcworldcup, text 81111 or post on our Facebook page., external We were only joking about the telegrams. Go, go, go!

Image source, Getty Images

But gone are the days when the humble text was all we had to offer. Clearly we want you to hang on every word and utterance, but there will also be plenty of pictures, video and audio to keep you entertained.

The beauty of our new, glitzy Sportsday is that we can watch and listen to these little gems without leaving this page. Whether you are using your desktop, tablet or mobile phone, just scroll to the top for the best of our multimedia coverage.

Our roving reporters out in Brazil will be providing the colour, so whether you're in Salford, Southampton or Sheffield, you will feel like you are stood in the middle of Sao Paulo. We will be providing regular Q&As with the likes of BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty, while a strong whiff of nostalgia and daily quiz questions will keep you entertained. Why go anywhere else?

"What's going on 'ere then?" I hear you cry. Over the next few weeks, we are souping up Sportsday. We're stopping short of lowering the suspension, adding a thumping bass speaker and painting flames down the side panel, however.

No, our changes are simple - and much more pleasing on the eyes for you football fans. World Cup Sportsday will be kicking off at 07:00 BST every day, bringing you all the latest news, reaction and build-up from Brazil, right up to about an hour before the opening game of the day begins.

So basically BBC Sport is not leaving your side from now until mid-July. We're expecting to be cited as "the other party" in hundreds of divorce papers up and down the land.

Ola! For weeks you have been spending your shopping money on World Cup stickers, using your World Cup wallcharts to predict England's path to glory and sticking your hand into the office World Cup sweepstake praying you don't pull Algeria out of the hat.

Now the pre-tournament guff stops - because the big day has arrived. Thirty-two teams, 64 games, 31 days and one prize.

Excited? You should be. If the adrenalin isn't pumping then you might want to check your pulse...

Image source, Getty Images

One thousand, four hundred and thirty-two days ago, Howard Webb tooted time on a brutal World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands. The shrill sound of the English referee's whistle marked the end of 2010 tournament as Andres Iniesta and his band of merry men tika-takaed their way to glory. And we have been counting down to Brazil ever since.

Now, to nick that immortal line from Swedish glamrockers Europe, it is time "for the final countdown". Ladies and gentlemen…*drum roll please*… please stand and give a warm welcome to the 2014 World Cup.