There were bizarre scenes in Manaus, Brazil, as England physio Gary Lewin slipped over on the turf during the celebrations and dislocated his ankle

The scenes leading up to this morning's match between Uruguay and Costa Rica were extraordinary, writes Michael Burgess.

For all of the pessimistic predictions that have followed them out to Brazil, there is also something refreshingly different about England's Class of 2014.

The World Cup is upon us, tear gas, riots and police violence mixed in with the best of the beautiful game.

During an Italian national team training camp in Coverciano last month, Mario Balotelli was forced to endure the sickening experience of having racist bile spat at him.

We might not be any good at the game, and those who follow it from here might like its culture in England, but they should not pretend we are part of it, writes John Roughan.

Waving flags, jumping to their feet and cheering, Brazilian fans brought a taste of their home country to New Zealand as they celebrated winning the opening game of the World Cup this morning.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup opened in Sao Paulo today with hosts Brazil taking on Croatia. We picked out the best tweets to recap the action.

The first game of the World Cup could set the tone, not just for Brazil but for the tournament. Can the Selecao deal with expectation?

In a World Cup shaping as one of the most competitive in decades, how teams cope with the demanding travel schedules is emerging as one of the critical success factors.

Wayne Rooney has told England manager Roy Hodgson he is ready for the World Cup, and has dismissed the doubts of former teammate Paul Scholes.