You will be able to watch England's latest news conference from Rio live at the top of this page from approximately 17:30 BST this afternoon. We are expecting goalkeeper Joe Hart and striker Wayne Rooney to be answering the media's questions so stay tuned. We will also be providing live text updates.

Liverpool and England striker Daniel Sturridge on Twitter:, external Bom dia Brasil, um dia, ate a Copa do Mundo! Good afternoon to everyone in England too, one day until the #WorldCup #closertomydreams.

Ben Smith
BBC Sport

I was walking along Copacabana yesterday when I caught sight of a familiar, loping walk. It was Juan Sebastien Veron who was taking in the atmosphere along Rio's most famous acre of sand.

The former Lazio and, ahem, Manchester United midfielder proceeded to tell me it had taken him an hour to walk 500 yards because he had been stopped so regularly by fans. You wouldn't know it by the look in his eye when I snapped a photo of him with my colleague David Ornstein ... He tipped his homeland Argentina to lift the trophy for the first time since 1986, by the way.

Former England coach and player Glenn Hoddle has told Fifa.com, external that on the eve of the start of the World Cup players from all of the 32 teams competing will be feeling excited.

"You are almost imagining games in your head, you want to train well but you also don't want to injure yourself, so it's a bit of a nervous time as well but you just have to get on and do it," he said.

"There's a real buzz about the camp, and the next thing you'll be wanting to know who's playing and what are your chances of getting in. If you know you're playing you'll be enjoying it even more."

Image source, Patrick Vieira

Former France and Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira on Twitter:, external Good morning Copacaba...this was an okay view to wake up to after my first night......

Playmaker David Silva believes the passing game Manuel Pellegrini introduced at Manchester City has highlighted his best qualities and helped make him a strong contender to start Spain's World Cup opener against the Netherlands in Brazil on Friday.

He said: "Pellegrini becoming coach has worked out very well. We have scored a lot of goals and it is crucial for my game to play his style of football. For that reason, I think people appreciate me more."

BBC Sport's David Ornstein will be roving throughout the north-east of Brazil taking in big fixtures involving the likes of Spain, Brazil, Argentina and Germany.

Image source, BBC Sport

Yesterday he tweeted, external from watching Netherlands train: Netherlands final session in Rio before flight to Salvador for #ESPSpain game Fri. Likely starting line-up on show. Van Nistelrooy in stand.

David from Salisbury on text: An ex of mine called her son Tony Adam. Luckily he is only a teenager now so no-one remembers the original.

Ryan: My dad insists that I was named after Ryan Giggs, I was born a year after his debut but my old man said from his first game that he was going to be special.

Kasy from Colchester: Knew a girl named Hybrie, after Highbury stadium. Not a good move - we lost contact just before they went to the Emirates.

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

Ben Smith
BBC Sport

I am leaving Rio behind to begin the journey to Sao Paulo and the opening game of the tournament tomorrow. Brazil arrived in the city last night and national TV was interrupted to show the squad arriving at their base in the country's biggest metropolis.

Neymar is once again on the front pages of the newspapers this morning and I will be at Arena Sao Paulo this evening (19:30 BST) to hear what the man of the moment has to say. It remains to be seen if Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari will be at the news conference following the sudden death of his nephew.

England's official Twitter feed:, external World Cup fever building, we've seen fans from everywhere here in Rio this morning, France, Australia, Netherlands, Argentina, Colombia, Italy, Uruguay and of course England.

Former Liverpool winger John Barnes was 'singing for England' at a local football club in Bristol.

The ex-Egland man performed his famous World Cup rap from Italia 90 at an awards evening, pulling parents on stage to help sing the lines from the World in Motion song.

Ashton FC chairman Ian Jones said it was "absolutely quality" while parent Nikk Fielden said most people at the event remembered the words and joined in. Watch the video here.

Brazil President Dilma Rousseff says her country is ready, on and off the pitch, for the football World Cup which starts tomorrow.

In a TV address, she said "the pessimists" had been defeated by the determination of the Brazilian people.

She rejected criticism of overspending, saying the tournament would leave a lasting legacy of infrastructure.

Brazil has seen a year of protests against bad governance and perceived excessive spending on the World Cup.

Conor McNamara
BBC Radio 5 live

These are caxirolas - Brazil's equivalent of the vuvuzelas which have already been banned from the stadiums.

Here are some more of your stories of naming children after international footballers. Keep them coming via text, #bbcworldcup or the BBC Sport Facebook page.

Paul from Weston-Super-Mare: When my brother was born the baby next to him was born Ashton Kate as the parents were massive Bristol City fans! My younger sister had a similar fate with a girl called Everton.

Geoff from Cumbria: An ex-work colleague of mine promised that if his wife gave birth to a boy on the same day as the World Cup final that he would name his child after the first scorer. Little Arthur Zinedine will be turning 16 next month! Fair play to him for sticking to his word!

Jon: I wanted to name my son either 'Thierry' or 'Henry'...but I was overruled by my football-hating wife!

Image source, AP

Former Russia team doctor Yuri Vasilkov says the side will be hampered by their tough travel schedule at the World Cup.

Fabio Capello's side arrived in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sunday after a long-haul flight from Moscow, and will again be boarding planes to Cuiaba, Rio and Curitiba for their group matches.

Vasilkov, who travelled with Russia during the 2002 finals, said such a drastic change in time zone was a significant factor in the national side's preparations. "There is a whole new science about long-distance travel. If we move by north to south, Russia to Madagascar - it's easy," he said.

"Our bodies don't need to adapt. But if we go east or west and spend more than four hours in the airplane, then our bodies find it harder to adapt to new circumstances."

A brief reminder that tennis action continues at Queen's Club this afternoon with Andy Murray beginning the defence of his title against Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu.

You can follow the latest coverage from Queen's on the BBC Sport website.

Phil McNulty
BBC chief football writer in Brazil

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City and Everton fans may have marvelled - or otherwise - at the sight of their former striker Jo beaming out from the TV here in Rio at breakfast time this morning.

Jo, who looked so far short of the required class in the Premier League at both clubs, is in Brazil's World Cup squad and ready to play his part.

Do you know anyone named after a famous player or manager? These people do.

Chris Stridgen:, external As a Liverpool fan I talked my brother into giving his son the middle name Owen.Then he signed for Utd!Nephew is now a Utd fan.

Dom Hanley: , externalMy dad's cousin was named after Alan Ball because of their love for Everton..... Ball left three weeks later.

Ken Gorry:, external Lot of Raymonds born in Ireland in 1988

Continue to let us know via #bbcworldcup,, external text 81111 (UK users only) or post on the BBC Sport Facebook, external page

The BBC Africa 'Love African Football' Facebook page is currently hosting a Q&A with its reporters Farayi Mungazi and Ian Hughes. Why not get involved here?, external

Watch how a local Brazilian football commentator warms up for the 2014 World Cup.

The broadcaster describes a Brazilian goal with the familiar South American exuberance.

The host country feature in the opening World Cup game against Croatia tomorrow.