ENGLAND'S Danny Welbeck has emerged as an injury doubt for the World Cup opener against Italy.
The 23-year-old has picked up a possible thigh problem ahead of Saturday's trip to Manaus.
Updates will be given by the England medical staff on Wednesday, but it could open up the door for Liverpool's young winger Raheem Sterling to start against the Italians, something fans have been clamouring for.
POTENTIAL English pantomime villain, Luis Suarez is working overtime to prove his fitness to Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, says teammate Cristian Rodriguez.
Suarez, 27, had extensive knee surgery last month and is battling to recover in time to feature in the World Cup- with the game against England on June 19th in Sao Paulo his target.
Rodriguez said of the controversial forward: "He is very focused, he is working in double and triple shifts and we hope to have him with us soon."
The Homeless Workers' Movement protests have reached a deal with authorities not to protest during the tournament.
In return for the agreement, the group have said they've been promised new houses to be built on illegally occupied land near the new stadium.
Spokesperson Jussara Basso, told Agence France-Presse: "The movement isn't against the Cup, we don't have the slightest intention of interfering.
"We won't protest either against the Cup or during it."
With one group in agreement not to protest, Sao Paulo authorities will just have the threatened strikes by the city's metro staff to deal with as the clock counts down to kick-off.
THE nephew of Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has been killed in a motorway accident.
Tarcisio Joao Schneider, 48, crashed into a truck near Scolari's hometown of Passo Fundo, police said, the news coming after the loss of his brother-in-law in May.
Former Chelsea boss Scolari, 65, was the man in charge the last time Brazil won the trophy in 2002, and will still be leading his side out on Thursday evening.
GLOBAL pop-star Jennifer Lopez WILL be at the opening ceremony in Sao Paulo on Thursday, after reports previously claimed she'd be missing from proceedings.
Fifa officials announced earlier this week that Lopez wouldn't be performing the official song of the finals with performers Pitbull and Claudia Leitte.
However Lopez told the Associated Press: "I'm coming, I leave tonight, we were always coming."
