Summary

  • Young players should enjoy World Cup experience - Rooney

  • Welbeck and Oxlade-Chamberlain not at England training

  • Rooney subjected to witch-hunt - Neville

  • Suarez working overtime for Uruguay

  • GET INVOLVED: Names inspired by football heroes

Live Reporting

Andy Cryer and Elizabeth Hudson

  1. Phil McNulty
    BBC chief football writer in Brazil

    England trainingAP

    England manager Roy Hodgson will be particularly concerned about the injury that has meant there is no sign of Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck here at Urca this morning.

    Welbeck has played an often unsung part for Hodgson since he took over as England manager two years ago, scoring eight goals in 20 appearances.

    Hodgson likes his energy, work-rate and tactical discipline, as well as his ability to get a goal at international level.

    Temperatures are back up again after yesterday's rain, with England's players being sprayed with water during breaks in training to keep them cool.

    England training at UrcaPA

  2. Get involved

    John McEnerney: A mad Chelsea fan I met when I lived in London gave his two sons the middle names Bonetti & Barota.

    Jay Unsworth: Someone I know called her baby girl Lanesra... Which is Arsenal backwards. My how we laughed.

    Troy Lynch: My dad wanted to call me Crystal Alice if I was a girl...... Slightly glad that I wasn't one then.

    Do you know anyone named after a famous player or manager? Continue to let us know via #bbcworldcup, text 81111 (UK users only) or post on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

  3. Time out for Cesc

    In between training sessions and preparing for the start of the World Cup, Spain's Cesc Fabregas has posted some footage on Facebook of him playing table tennis against team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta.

  4. World Cup scrapbook

    Every World Cup has its highs and lows, its heroes and villains and stories that are passed down through generations of football fans. We've put together a scrapbook of some of these magical moments from the past 84 years. Have a look at the images here.

  5. Ian Dennis
    BBC Radio 5 live commentator

    Wayne Rooney at England trainingGetty Images

    Humidity extremely high in Rio today - perfect workout for players before trip to Manaus tomorrow.

    England trainingGetty Images

  6. Tennis

    Andy Murray has started the defence of his Queen's Club title with a 6-4 6-4 win over Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu.

    Third seed Murray, who was watched by new coach Amelie Mauresmo, will next face Radek Stepanek, a 7-6 7-6 winner over Bernard Tomic.

  7. World Cup vote

    Don't forget you can vote on whether you think Wayne Rooney should start for England against Italy? You can vote via the voting section on this page. The vote closes at 17:00 BST and the results will be revealed here soon after. Please read the terms and conditions here.

    I can't promise England manager Roy Hodgson will listen to you mind.

  8. Phil McNulty
    BBC chief football writer in Brazil

    England's players are warming up at the Urca Military Base in Rio - and there is no Danny Welbeck among the group. The FA is expected to give an update later on the injury that meant he was unable to complete Tuesday's training session.

  9. BBC Radio 5 live's Ian Dennis on Twitter: Still nothing official from FA but no Danny Welbeck at England training. Oxlade Chamberlain the other absentee

  10. Ben Smith
    BBC Sport

    Brazil

    Brazil may not have been enveloped by World Cup fever just yet but this pet shop in Rio is bucking the trend.

    Brazil shirts to fit dogs and cats of all shapes and sizes ...

  11. Get involved

    Karl Adcock on Facebook: My father is a hardcore Southampton fan and England supporter. But he had an unhealthy love for Bayern hero Karl Heinz Rummenigge. So I'm named after a German striker...

    Bill Durrant: Late 90's my son wanted a hamster. I agreed on the proviso he called it Ronaldo. Late one night Ronaldo left his cage for a training session and was hacked down by a ginger cat called Boris. The viewing battle of World Cup vs Wimbledon was decided......

    Do you know anyone named after a famous player or manager? Continue to let us know via #bbcworldcup, text 81111 (UK users only) or post on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

  12. Stay up to date with the BBC

    Worried about missing key action during the World Cup? Why not sign up to the push alert option on the BBC Sport app?

    The new feature, available for every team in the World Cup, means there is no need to miss kick-off, goals, half-time scores, full-time results or even finding out first who has made the starting 11.

  13. J-Lo ready for World Cup kick-off

    Singer Jennifer LopezAP

    Singer Jennifer Lopez will be performing at Thursday's World Cup opening ceremony after a change to her plans.

    Fifa officials announced earlier this week that the singer wouldn't perform the official tune 'We Are One (Ole Ola)' alongside rapper Pitbull and Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte.

    But J-Lo said in an interview that she would be definitely going to Brazil to perform before the hosts take on Croatia at Thursday's opening game in Sao Paulo.

  14. World Cup vote

    Here is your chance to vote on whether you think Wayne Rooney should start for England against Italy? You can vote via the voting section on this page. The vote closes at 17:00 BST and the results will be revealed here soon after. Please read the terms and conditions here.

  15. Stats provider OptaJoe on Twitter: 2 - Didier Drogba has only had two shots on target in 384 minutes at the #WorldCup for the Ivory Coast and he scored with both. Lethal.

  16. Lineker's group predictions

    Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan

    Lineker said: "Japan are growing in stature all the time - they've come a long way since I played there in the early 1990s - and they will be able to cause a few upsets. I don't fancy Greece at all.

    "Yaya Toure might pull it out of the bag for the Ivory Coast and they will join Colombia in the second round."

    Read Gary Lineker's World Cup group guide here.

  17. Drag queen in Brazil

    To find out more about some of the cities which will be hosting World Cup matches, including Sao Paulo, which will host Thursday's opening game between Brazil and Croatia, BBC Brasil presents Brazil's Soccer Cities.

    The series helps you to discover the cities through the eyes of the BBC's Brazilian reporters and give you a taste of some of the country's most exciting and colourful places.

    From dancing with drag queens in Sao Paulo, to swimming with dolphins in an Amazon city, to going on favela mountain biking adventures and free running across the country's sci-fi capital you can find out more about what makes Brazil so special.

  18. Get involved

    Declan Donaghey on Facebook: Not quite. Though I did name my dog, David Barkhim, after France '98.

    Edward Chanda Bunda: There's a Lineker (named after Gary of course) in Zambia and turns out he's a good footballer playing in Zambia Super League.

    Bri Lindsay: Oh yes I'm sure someone's going to call there kid in for tea by shouting "Oh Diving Cheat your teas ready".

    Do you know anyone named after a famous player or manager? Continue to let us know via #bbcworldcup, text 81111 (UK users only) or post on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

  19. Lineker's group predictions

    Uruguay, England, Italy, Costa Rica

    Lineker said: "England and Italy are both notorious for starting major tournaments slowly and I wouldn't be surprised if the opener in Manaus was a draw.

    "I'm confident that England will go through and I'll go with Italy to join them."

    Read Gary Lineker's World Cup group guide here.

  20. It's a kind of magic

    Why will referees be drawing white lines on the pitch throughout the World Cup before watching them disappear a few seconds later?

    No, they aren't branching out into magic, they will be using the new vanishing spray to stop defenders encroaching at free-kicks.

    Read referee Howard Webb's view on the spray here.