Your thoughts on whether Wayne Rooney should be included in England's team to face Uruguay are coming in on social media and by text.

Matt Fuery, Birmingham: For me it's simple, drop Rooney and start Barkley in his place against Uruguay, this will lift the pressure on Rooney's shoulders that he must do something in a game by proving we don't need him so he can play relaxed when brought on in the second half.

Tom Chamley, Manchester: Can people explain why it is only Rooney getting the Flak. What about other under performers. Gerrard. Henderson. Baines and Johnson. ? Get a grip. Rooney should be central.

Please put a name to your text as well please. Preferably your own.

Image source, Getty Images

England captain Steven Gerrard says the fearless approach of Liverpool team-mate Raheem Sterling (pictured) can play a crucial role in reviving their World Cup hopes.

Roy Hodgson's side face a fight for Group D survival against Uruguay in Sao Paulo on Thursday after they both lost their opening games. England lost 2-1 to Italy in Manaus, but 19-year-old Sterling was outstanding.

Gerrard said: "He is fearless - that's the way he plays. That is his character. He doesn't worry about opponents. For his first start in a major tournament, there were flashes of positivity. He's a big player for the future."

Image source, AFP

Even the quadrennial football-fest cannot stop the flow of transfer gossip.

The Daily Telegraph report that Belgium and Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has agreed a move to Manchester United and that a move will go through later this summer if the Gunners can agree a fee.

"Arsenal cannot expect to receive more than £10million for Vermaelen with only a year remaining on his contract," writes Matt Law., external

Former United States captain Claudio Reyna believes his nation can reach the last 16 of the World Cup for a second successive tournament.

Germany and Portugal, ranked second and fourth in the world, and 2010 quarter-finalists Ghana are also in Group G.

Reyna, who played in three World Cups, says: "I've got a feeling we can do well and get out of it. It will take some big performances. But qualifying for the knockout stage would be a huge success."

Image source, EPA

He made us wait and wait, but hours before Portugal's opening World Cup game against Germany, Cristiano Ronaldo said the words his nation were desperate to hear: "I'm at 100%. I want to have a great World Cup."

The 29-year-old suffered knee and thigh injuries in the build-up, but he will captain his side for the Group G match in Salvador at 17:00 BST.

Ronaldo is Portugal's all-time leading scorer but has registered only two goals in 10 World Cup matches, despite netting 252 times in 246 games for Real Madrid.

Image source, AP

We've had 11 games and still not a single draw, with three goals a game more or less. Not a bad start, eh? As mentioned, Argentina and France won on Sunday, with Switzerland the other team to taste victory with a dramatic 2-1 win over Ecuador.

Substitute Haris Seferovic (pictured) scored in the third minute of stoppage time, turning in Ricardo Rodriguez's low cross as Ottmar Hitzfeld's side came from behind to claim victory.

Image source, Getty Images

Wayne Rooney says he knows he could be dropped for England's vital World Cup meeting with Uruguay on Thursday and that he has never taken his starting place for granted.

"I've never said my place is guaranteed. I don't expect to play. I work hard and I want to play," he told newspaper reporters., external

"It's good the manager has so many options. We have a lot of good, young players so we will all work hard, all give the manager different options, different choices and whoever he picks, then I am sure we will all respect that."

Should Wayne Rooney start against Uruguay? Once one of the first names on the team sheet, England's top-scorer in qualifying could now find himself left out after Raheem Sterling's good performance against Italy.

Joel Peter: , externalRooney MUST play and the media need to let go of the hype around him. Too much pressure. I would play Lallana on the left too.

Gareth King:, external If anyone else was under performing as much as Rooney they would not be playing.

Colin Leng:, external Don't drop Rooney, there would be a noticeable weakness without him.

Get in touch via #bbcworldcup, external or 81111 on the text.

It seems even footballers as talented as Lionel Messi get butterflies before big games. "It's the first game - I was anxious, nervous," said Messi, who scored his 39th goal in 87 internationals.

"It was important to start with a win. We've got to improve certain things, but it was important to start with the three points."

Image source, El Dia

El Dia also notes that Argentine nerves were finally settled by Lionel Messi's solo strike.

"A narrow win to begin," reads its headline.

As well as his goal, Lionel Messi set up four of Argentina's 10 chances and set off on seven successful dribbles - six more than any of his team-mates.

Messi's goal, with his only shot on target in the match, was his second at a World Cup. He had played 623 minutes of World Cup finals football since his first, scored against Serbia in 2006's group stages.

You've arrived at your desk with a mountain of work you let stack up on Friday as you got caught up in World Cup fever with the weekend inching ever closer.

That's a busy morning ahead, then, but you'll need a break - 10 minutes or so I reckon - at some point. And when you do, I suggest you watch our Match of the Day World Cup catch-up video, which is a handy 10 minutes long.

If you missed Lionel Messi's goal last night, BBC Two are showing highlights of the game right now.

Image source, UNO

"Breathe Argentina, with a great goal from Messi, we win in Rio."

Argentinean newspaper Uno savours their national side's opening victory in Group D, lauding Lionel Messi.

The 26-year-old has previously struggled to win round public opinion in his native country, which he left as a 13-year-old to join Barcelona.

Before the tournament, BBC chief sports writer Tom Fordyce discussed how Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo face career-defining moments at the World Cup.

"Should one be crowned world champion, it might even be enough to swing the eternal argument about which is the superior player," writes Fordyce. "That's what World Cups can do: complete careers, crown kings."

Read the full feature on the football pages.

Image source, Reuters

Lionel Messi made his mark on the Maracana with a trademark slaloming dribble and drilled finish to score Argentina's decisive goal in the win over Bosnia-Hercegovina last night.

The Barcelona attacker, a four-time World Player of the Year, put together some impressive statistics as he revelled in a central role behind striker Gonzalo Higuain.

He amassed the second-highest number of touches of any player on the field with 97. Team-mate Javier Mascherano clocked up 112, with Sergio Aguero managing only 29 in his 87 minutes on the pitch.

Lionel Messi was the man who dominated the headlines on Sunday evening as the 26-year-old scored what turned out to be the winner in Argentina's 2-1 victory over Bosnia.

"It was Messi at his best, cutting in with the ball tied to his left foot, exchanging quick passes with Gonzalo Higuain and curling a shot in off the post," says BBC Sport's Tim Vickery.

Read more from Vickery about how coach Alejandro Sabella's decision to change the formation at the break proved to unlock the team's potential on the football pages.

Image source, Reuters

In his latest BBC Sport column, Alan Shearer says England striker Wayne Rooney should be number 10 or not play.

"Because of how well they played against Italy, Raheem Sterling and Sturridge have to start against Uruguay in a game England need to win. You cannot leave either of them out," says Shearer.

"Sterling excelled in that number 10 role but that does not mean there is no place for Rooney, though. I would have him in behind Sturridge, where he has proven himself time and time again, and move Sterling to the right, where he plays for Liverpool the vast majority of the time.

"But either play Rooney off the striker, or do not play him at all."

The BBC pundits discuss Rooney's best position in this video available on the football pages.

As previously mentioned, this is the first time goalline technology has been used at a World Cup with the German-manufactured GoalControl system being used to assist referees in Brazil.

Calls for the technology grew after Frank Lampard's goal was ruled out in England's 4-1 defeat by Germany in the 2010 World Cup. To find out more about the technology, check out a feature on that very subject on our football pages.

Fifa have issued an explanation to explain why a "no goal" graphic was shown before another graphic confirming the goal.

"In general, GLT (goalline technology) animated replays may be shown when the ball is within 30cm of the goal line on the pitch side of the goal line, as well as when the ball crosses the line," said the statement.

Fifa adds that to "ensure maximum clarity" the governing body will review its procedures "to enhance the viewing experience for fans".