Latest news updates and score with our live minute-by-minute match report of the Fifa World Cup 2014 Group A game between Brazil and Croatia at Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo, Thursday June 12, kick-off 21:00 (BST)
Latest
Can you remember anything of any World Cup opener ever? How many times will the words 'carnival atmosphere' be repeated by the great and the good of our television punditry? Do you know anything about Croatia? Email mehreen.khan@telegraph.co.uk or tweet @mehreenkhn with your thoughts and answers.
BRAZIL v CROATIA
19.06 Right, less than two hours 'til kick off at the Arena de São
Paulo. A reminder that if you're more interested in the opening ceremony
than the football, you can follow
it all here with my collegue Alan Tyers. If you're yet to find a
television, worry not. Lee Dixon has just told Fabio Cannavaro that he
inspired him to become a defender because he "looked so good in his kit."
18.39 So what are the of the key clashes we expect tonight? Neymar
against veteran Croation right-back Dario Srna should be a classic
battle of pace against nouse.
Naturalised Croatia striker Eduardo Silva has promised to sing both
national anthems before kick-off - but which one will he belt out the
loudest?
Personally, I'm most looking forward to the 'age-off' between Chelsea's Oscar and Real Madrid's Modric, as they battle it out for the title of 'most pre-pubescent looking adult' at the World Cup.
18.11 Just because this World Cup is nearly upon us, that's no excuse not to recall, reminisce, and rejoice at all the stuff that happened last time we all got really excited about the football.
With that in mind, have a go on Project Babb's How much do you remember from the last World Cup quiz.
And I'm not just plugging this because I managed to get them all right. Na-uh.
18.00 For all the opening ceremony japes, my colleague Alan Tyers will be here with the best live coverage.
17.45 Right. Here we are. Finally. After interminable build-up and coverage of everything except the football, the first ball in the 2014 World Cup is nearly ready to be kicked (in T-minus 3.5 hours or so).
Everyone always remembers their first World Cup. Mine was France '98. Do I have any recollection of the opening match? No, of course not. They're usually the least memorable parts of any tournament simply for the fact that the first game is then over-shadowed by everything else. That's how time works.
France '98 was also the last time the host country won the tournament, something everyone expects to happen this time round. As for the Croatians, their '98 vintage was arguably the best team to emerge from the Balkans. Davor Suker and co got all the way to the semi-finals before footballer-cum-social-commentator Lillian Thuram, did this...
12.00 Head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has claimed this is Brazil's World Cup ahead of the opening match against Croatia. After years of preparation, the 20th edition of the tournament kicks off in Sao Paulo on Thursday at the new Arena Corinthians.
This is the second time Brazil have hosted the World Cup and they will be praying it is more successful than in 1950, when the Selecao fell at the final hurdle against Uruguay at the Maracana. That remains the only time a clear favourite playing in front of a home crowd has lost the final and it is a fate Scolari is confident will not be repeated this year.
Watch live: Brazil prepares for World Cup 2014 kick off
"To all Brazilians I want to tell you the time has arrived," the last man to lead the country to World Cup glory said. "This is our World Cup. There are seven steps. We have to go up those seven steps but to start we have to think of the first step. We can't jump the seven steps.
"The first step is tomorrow against Croatia. After that we have six steps that we want to go up if we want to win the World Cup."
Much of Brazil's hope and expectation is being shouldered by 22-year-old Barcelona forward Neymar.
Player of the tournament at last year's Confederation Cup, he cannot wait to get their tilt at a sixth crown started.
"We hope that this last day goes by very quickly," Neymar said. "I am anxious of course but also I'm extremely happy being where I am today because many people would like to be here.
"I really hope I can help my team in the best possible way to fulfil the dream of the players, and Brazilians, which is to win the World Cup."
As if Croatia's task was not difficult enough, they will be without key man Mario Mandzukic on Thursday through suspension and had to replace the injured Ivan Mocinic with Milan Badelj on the eve of the game.
Some bookmakers price them as far out as 12/1 to win the match, yet manager Niko Kovac is confident his side will not be rolled over.
"Let's be realistic, Brazil are the hosts and a great favourite," Kovac said. "We come to play the best we can, leave the right impression and show heart on the field.
"The players are eager for this match, the training is going strong and sharp. They are all professionals and they want to play and impose themselves.
"I am optimistic we're not going to Sao Paulo raise the white flag."
Here's John Ley's match preview...
Brazil (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Cesar; Alves, Luiz, Silva, Marcelo; Gustavo, Paulinho; Hulk, Oscar, Neymar; Fred.
Croatia (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Pletikosa; Srna, Lovren, Corluka, Pranjic; Vukojevic, Modric; Perisic, Rakitic, Kovacic; Olic.
Out: Mandzukic (suspended).
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan).
Betting: Brazil 1-3 , Croatia 10-1 , Draw 7-2.
Team News
Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari should field a 4-2-3-1 formation for the tournament opener.
Much has been said about the loss of form of Chelsea's Oscar, and Scolari will be hoping that the youngster regains his form soon.
If his dip continues, another Stamford Bridge star, Willian, can be called upon.
Croatia could suffer from the absence of Mario Mandzukic, who is suspended following his red card in the play-off game against Iceland back in November.
One man in their squad was born and bred in Brazil. Eduardo has played for Croatia for a long time, though he admitted recently he might even sing both national anthems.
Match Notes
So here it is. After years of build-up, and weeks of anticipation, Brazil begin the 2014 World Cup against underdogs who could still pull off a shock.
Granted, the Croats are not a patch on the team that boasted the likes of Davor Suker and Robert Prosinecki, but hosts do not always start well.
It is important Brazil score first and, possibly, early. Great attention will be focused on Neymar, the young man many compatriots believe cpould be the star of the World Cup.
Stat of the game: In the build-up to the World Cup, Brazil averaged 2.58 goals per game, scoring two or more goals in 84 per cent of those matches.
John Ley's prediction: Brazil 2 Croatia 0.
Personally, I'm most looking forward to the 'age-off' between Chelsea's Oscar and Real Madrid's Modric, as they battle it out for the title of 'most pre-pubescent looking adult' at the World Cup.
18.11 Just because this World Cup is nearly upon us, that's no excuse not to recall, reminisce, and rejoice at all the stuff that happened last time we all got really excited about the football.
With that in mind, have a go on Project Babb's How much do you remember from the last World Cup quiz.
And I'm not just plugging this because I managed to get them all right. Na-uh.
18.00 For all the opening ceremony japes, my colleague Alan Tyers will be here with the best live coverage.
17.45 Right. Here we are. Finally. After interminable build-up and coverage of everything except the football, the first ball in the 2014 World Cup is nearly ready to be kicked (in T-minus 3.5 hours or so).
Everyone always remembers their first World Cup. Mine was France '98. Do I have any recollection of the opening match? No, of course not. They're usually the least memorable parts of any tournament simply for the fact that the first game is then over-shadowed by everything else. That's how time works.
France '98 was also the last time the host country won the tournament, something everyone expects to happen this time round. As for the Croatians, their '98 vintage was arguably the best team to emerge from the Balkans. Davor Suker and co got all the way to the semi-finals before footballer-cum-social-commentator Lillian Thuram, did this...
12.00 Head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has claimed this is Brazil's World Cup ahead of the opening match against Croatia. After years of preparation, the 20th edition of the tournament kicks off in Sao Paulo on Thursday at the new Arena Corinthians.
This is the second time Brazil have hosted the World Cup and they will be praying it is more successful than in 1950, when the Selecao fell at the final hurdle against Uruguay at the Maracana. That remains the only time a clear favourite playing in front of a home crowd has lost the final and it is a fate Scolari is confident will not be repeated this year.
Watch live: Brazil prepares for World Cup 2014 kick off
"To all Brazilians I want to tell you the time has arrived," the last man to lead the country to World Cup glory said. "This is our World Cup. There are seven steps. We have to go up those seven steps but to start we have to think of the first step. We can't jump the seven steps.
"The first step is tomorrow against Croatia. After that we have six steps that we want to go up if we want to win the World Cup."
Much of Brazil's hope and expectation is being shouldered by 22-year-old Barcelona forward Neymar.
Player of the tournament at last year's Confederation Cup, he cannot wait to get their tilt at a sixth crown started.
"We hope that this last day goes by very quickly," Neymar said. "I am anxious of course but also I'm extremely happy being where I am today because many people would like to be here.
"I really hope I can help my team in the best possible way to fulfil the dream of the players, and Brazilians, which is to win the World Cup."
As if Croatia's task was not difficult enough, they will be without key man Mario Mandzukic on Thursday through suspension and had to replace the injured Ivan Mocinic with Milan Badelj on the eve of the game.
Some bookmakers price them as far out as 12/1 to win the match, yet manager Niko Kovac is confident his side will not be rolled over.
"Let's be realistic, Brazil are the hosts and a great favourite," Kovac said. "We come to play the best we can, leave the right impression and show heart on the field.
"The players are eager for this match, the training is going strong and sharp. They are all professionals and they want to play and impose themselves.
"I am optimistic we're not going to Sao Paulo raise the white flag."
Here's John Ley's match preview...
Brazil (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Cesar; Alves, Luiz, Silva, Marcelo; Gustavo, Paulinho; Hulk, Oscar, Neymar; Fred.
Croatia (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Pletikosa; Srna, Lovren, Corluka, Pranjic; Vukojevic, Modric; Perisic, Rakitic, Kovacic; Olic.
Out: Mandzukic (suspended).
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan).
Betting: Brazil 1-3 , Croatia 10-1 , Draw 7-2.
Team News
Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari should field a 4-2-3-1 formation for the tournament opener.
Much has been said about the loss of form of Chelsea's Oscar, and Scolari will be hoping that the youngster regains his form soon.
If his dip continues, another Stamford Bridge star, Willian, can be called upon.
Croatia could suffer from the absence of Mario Mandzukic, who is suspended following his red card in the play-off game against Iceland back in November.
One man in their squad was born and bred in Brazil. Eduardo has played for Croatia for a long time, though he admitted recently he might even sing both national anthems.
Match Notes
So here it is. After years of build-up, and weeks of anticipation, Brazil begin the 2014 World Cup against underdogs who could still pull off a shock.
Granted, the Croats are not a patch on the team that boasted the likes of Davor Suker and Robert Prosinecki, but hosts do not always start well.
It is important Brazil score first and, possibly, early. Great attention will be focused on Neymar, the young man many compatriots believe cpould be the star of the World Cup.
Stat of the game: In the build-up to the World Cup, Brazil averaged 2.58 goals per game, scoring two or more goals in 84 per cent of those matches.
John Ley's prediction: Brazil 2 Croatia 0.
