Image source, AP

Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder has taken up kick-boxing to boost his fitness for his nation's World Cup campaign and also as a way of extending his career.

The Galatasaray player turned 30 on Monday and will earn his 100th cap when the Netherlands take on Spain in their opening game on Friday.

"A few years back, I always considered players in their thirties to be old. Now it's my turn, but I have no desire to retire straightaway," he said.

He is also keen to take revenge on Spain who beat the Dutch in the 2010 final in South Africa. "It's like a scar that hasn't yet healed. It always gets me down when I think about it," he added.

Wayne Rooney on the threat that Italy's Andrea Pirlo presents and pitch conditions in Manaus:

"The Italians should look at our team. They have some great players but do we and they should be worried about their own team.

"At the end of the day the pitch is the same for ourselves and Italy and we will both have to deal with that."

Image source, AFP

Wayne Rooney on looking to score in a World Cup at his third attempt:

"I want us as a country to be successful and I want to be successful with this team. It's not about me scoring or not scoring.

"You have to enjoy these moments as much as you can and maybe I haven't done that in the last two World Cups but I will make sure I do it in this one."

Wayne Rooney on the conditions:

"We're fine, we've prepared really well over the last three or four weeks. It's going to be hot and humid but that's what we've been preparing for. We're ready for the game, looking forward to it and the quicker it comes the better."

Wayne Rooney on the difference with South Africa in 2010:

"We didn't struggle badly with the heat, just didn't perform well enough. We've prepared well, we're ready, in truth the games haven't been too bad in the heat and humidity. We're ready for this game and just looking forward to it now."

Wayne Rooney on his own fitness:

"I feel great. I feel 100% fit, ready for this tournament, I'm not going to sit here and say expect this or expect that but I'll be giving everything I can to try to help the team.

"For me it is an honour to represent my country so many times. It is something I am proud to do and to be successful would be the icing on the cake."

Wayne Rooney on Italy.

"I think we have moved ahead of Italy in the last two years. The squad we have is youthful with a lot of energy and excitement. It will be interesting to see how we have moved on and progressed.

"The future is bright with so much ability and it is a joy to be part of the squad. I still feel I have a massive role to play. I think we can all be really excited.

Wayne Rooney on Danny Welbeck:

"Danny will be fine. He will be ready for Saturday, he's not risked anything so he'll train on Friday and be available for Saturday.

And here is Wayne Rooney.

A reminder - if you need one - that you can hear from England's Wayne Rooney very shortly. To watch the press conference in Rio, just click the Live Coverage tab at the top of the page.

BBC Radio 5 live

For all you need to know about the World Cup, tune in to BBC Radio 5 Live from 1900 on Wednesday evening for their special preview show.

Presented by Mark Pougatch and Mark Chapman and coming live from the England team hotel, it will feature the likes of Pele, Wayne Rooney, Roberto Martinez, Danny Mills, Danny Murphy, Chris Waddle, Tim Vickery and much much more.

Argentina, Bosnia, Nigeria, Iran

Lineker said: "Bosnia-Hercegovina qualified well. Their Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko might be an outside bet for the Golden Boot. Then there's Nigeria, who won the Africa Cup of Nations - they probably have to be favourites with regards to the African team that will go the furthest. You can't give much hope for Iran. I think it'll be Argentina to win the group and Nigeria to go through too."

Read Gary Lineker's World Cup group guide here.

The vote has now closed into whether Wayne Rooney should start against Italy on Saturday - 70% of you said Yes - 30% said No. Thanks for your votes.

Former Brazil star Dada Maravilha has warned England's players that the heat will hit them "like a blow to the head" when they play Italy in Manaus on Saturday.

"It's very hot in Manaus," said the 68-year-old former striker. "If they [England] want to run more than the ball, they won't be able to cope with it.

"You have to rest, and circulate the ball, because up there the sun is like a blow to the head. But if you're professional, if you prepare well, you can play without problems."

A "psychic" turtle has predicted Brazil will win their World Cup opening match against Croatia on Thursday.

'Big Head' had to choose to eat a piece of fish from under a Brazilian or Croatian flag, or a ball that indicated a draw.

The turtle chose the host country, much to the delight of the locals, and is the latest in a growing list of "psychic" animals to predict the outcome of football matches.

Switzerland, France, Honduras, Ecuador

Lineker said: "You have to expect the French to go through as group winners.

"You can't fancy Honduras as the other qualifier, while Ecuador do well when they play at altitude at home, but they won't have that advantage in Brazil. So I'm going to go for Switzerland, who are organised and have one or two good players coming through."

Read Gary Lineker's World Cup group guide here.

BBC World's Kevin Bishop: "I've just walked around the north side of the pitch at the Arena Amazonas in Manaus. The pitch isn't in ideal condition at that end but I would say it's not as bad as some reports make out - although I'm no expert.

"There are patches where the grass is parched - brown lines running across the pitch. A small amount of what appears to be sand is visible behind the goal line but I could not see if that was the case on the pitch itself. In front of the goal in the north end the pitch does look scuffed up and somewhat uneven. That is the worst area I could see."

BBC Sport understands the FA will send a member of the backroom staff to inspect the Arena Amazonas pitch when they arrive in Manaus on Thursday. This is not in response to today's pictures but is normal practice. They will also then train on the pitch as normal on Friday. At this stage they have no concerns ahead of Saturday's match against Italy.

Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez insists there are 'no limits' to what England can achieve at the World Cup.

Rodriguez, 24, was capped by Hodgson in the 2-0 friendly defeat against Chile and was in with a shout of making the final 23-man World Cup squad before he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Manchester City in April.

"I don't think there are any limits as to how far they can go," he said. "I think if you look at the squad, the manager, they are brilliant. There really are no limits and it's an exciting time for England."

Image source, Matt Dickinson

The Times' Chief Sports Correspondent Matt Dickinson on Twitter:, external Italy's base two hours from Rio isn't too shabby.

Chief football correspondent for The Independent Sam Wallace on Twitter:, external The FA have just announced that England will not train in Manaus tomorrow. Their only session pre-match will be in stadium there on Friday.