J-Lo, 'iron man' suit star in ceremony

Pop superstar Jennifer Lopez, hundreds of dancers, drummers and gymnasts, and a paraplegic who will kick a football in a robotic suit will deliver a pre-match extravaganza on Thursday to open the World Cup.

After the delays that have hampered Brazil's preparations, organisers had one overriding message for fans ahead of the 3:15 pm (8.15pm CAT) opening ceremony: Don't arrive late.

"Please, get there early," pleaded Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte. She will perform the official World Cup song, "We Are One," along with Lopez, rapper Pitbull and Brazilian drumming collective Olodum in the ceremony's grand finale.

There were last-minute doubts over whether Lopez, who media reports say recently broke up with backup dancer and boyfriend Casper Smart, would attend.

Fifa said on Sunday the singer had pulled out of the ceremony over "production issues."

But with two days to go, the world football body said she would perform after all.

"We Are One" has been viewed more than 75 million times on YouTube, though some critics have panned it as a disappointing follow-up to World Cup classics like Ricky Martin's "Cup of Life" in 1998 and Shakira's "Waka Waka" in 2010.

More than 60 000 fans will be in Sao Paulo's Corinthians Arena, including 12 heads of state and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and around one billion people are expected to watch the opening ceremony and match on TV.

The 25-minute ceremony will feature more than 600 artists, including acrobatic gymnasts, trampolinists, marshal arts-style capoeira performers and stilt walkers.

"The opening ceremony is a tribute to Brazil and its treasures: nature, people football," Belgian artistic director Daphne Cornez said in a statement.

She said one of her goals was to showcase the diversity of the sprawling South American country of 200 million people.

But Cornez has kept most other details under wraps.

Performers have had to surrender their cell phones before rehearsals to prevent any surreptitious selfies.

In all, more than 1, 200 people have worked on the ceremony.

Organisers said 20 hours of artistic work had gone into every minute of the performance.

The center of the show will be a giant LED ball made up of more than 90 000 light clusters.

But that will be one of the few large-scale technical wonders, since Cornez and team were under orders to avoid placing too much strain on the pitch where Brazil and Croatia will face off at 5pm (10pm CAT).

There will be no political speeches this year, not even from Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, though messages of peace from Pope Francis and other religious leaders will be read out as doves are released.

The most powerful moment may come when a paraplegic, whose identity has been kept secret, gives the first kick to Brazuca, the official World Cup ball, by donning an Iron Man-like robotic suit controlled by brain signals.

The cutting-edge exoskeleton was designed by Brazilian neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis.

It will also be a special day for several youths from Itaquera, the lower-class neighborhood where the stadium was built in a process plagued by protests, delays, overspending and construction accidents that killed three workers.

"We reached a deal with Fifa for three young people from our neighborhood to participate in the ceremony," said local priest Rosalvino Moran, who runs the charity that chose the youths.

"It was the least they could do. If they hadn't agreed, the kids would have camped out in front of the stadium and protested the World Cup."

Who Agrees Spain to win World Cup - study

Defending champions Spain look set to win the World Cup thanks to the interlocking qualities of their squad, which will allow them to outgun Brazil, statisticians said on Wednesday.

The Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory said it had taken an in-depth look at the career trajectory of all 32 squads due to lock horns in Brazil from Thursday.

"This approach has allowed us to predict a hypothetical scenario for the outcome of the competition, suggesting that Spain will beat Brazil in the final, with Argentina in third place and France in fourth position," it said.

CIES Football Observatory's experts, who apply econometric methods to all aspects of the game, number-crunched a vast haul of data.

They took into account league matches and goals during each player's career to date, as well as in the last two years, plus national team caps since 2012 and the total number of World Cup games ever played.

Based on that recipe for success, they combed through all eight World Cup groups to assess who was likely to reach the last 16.

They tipped Brazil to beat The Netherlands in the first knock-out round, while Japan would lose to Italy, France would oust Nigeria, and Portugal would dump out Russia.

In the four other last-16 games, the analysts said that Spain would defeat Croatia, England would elbow out Colombia, Ecuador would lose to Argentina, and that Germany would show Belgium the exit.

That would set up a series of tasty quarterfinals, with Brazil knocking out Italy, France beating Portugal, Spain defeating England, and Germany losing to Argentina.

Brazil would then go on to beat France in the semifinals, while Argentina would lose to Spain.

It also said that the most competitive groups, statistically, would be Group C, pitting Japan, Colombia, Ivory Coast and Greece, and Group G, made up of Portugal, Germany, the United States and Ghana.

Messi, Ronaldo duel for Cup stardom

One is the world's best known footballer, the other the most valuable. They have scored the same number of Champions League goals and are loaded down with titles. But superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are stuck in a World Cup dead end.

Between them Messi and Ronaldo have monopolised the past six world player of the year awards. But each have attended the last two World Cups and failed to even get near the trophy. Messi has scored just one goal at the finals, Ronaldo only two.

Now though, the weight of Argentinian hopes rests on Messi's slight shoulders. Portugal are desperate for Ronaldo's goals to get out of one of the most difficult groups in the contest.

The Brazil World Cup could finally decide whether the name of Messi or Ronaldo is etched into football legend alongside the Peles and Diego Maradonas and Zinedine Zidanes. It is the competition which transforms reputations.

The softly-spoken Messi is 26, just 1.69m tall and 67kg in weight. But his goalscorer record and brilliance pack the same weight as the 29-year-old Ronaldo – 1.85m and 80kg – who revels in his glamour lifestyle.

Messi captured three Champions League wins with Barcelona while Ronaldo responded by adding a crown for Real Madrid last month to his earlier success with Manchester United.

Both average more than 50 goals a year in all competitions for their clubs.

Ronaldo is the world's most recognisable and marketable footballer, according to the Repucom, a sports marketing research company.

But Messi remains the world's most valuable footballer on the market, according to the Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory. It put the Argentine's value at 216 million euros, while because of his age, Ronaldo was worth just 114 million euros.

The case for the elevation of Messi and Ronaldo to the almost deified heights of Pele and Maradona would surely be unanswerable were either to lift the trophy on 13 July in Rio.

"Both players are incredibly great athletes and both have outstanding qualities. Both can win a match in their club or national team on their own," said Ottmar Hitzfeld, the respected German coach who will be in charge of Switzerland at the World Cup.

But the World Cup, high pressure over one month, is vastly different from the Spanish league and Champions League duties which Messi and Ronaldo so brilliantly execute week in, week out.

Maradona is adamant that "Messi doesn't have to win the World Cup to be the best in the world."

For the 1986 world champion, "one world title more or one less can't take anything away from anything (Messi) has achieved to be where he is today."

With Messi having enjoyed a less than stellar campaign with Barcelona this season – and having seen Ronaldo take the Fifa Ballon d'Or for the world's best player away from him – the World Cup is his chance to crown a loaded career trophy haul.

Ronaldo, in contrast, comes into the World Cup on the back of Real's first Champions League win in 12 years – though his exploits have taken a toll as he struggles with thigh and knee problems.

Yet none other than Pele has in recent months spoken of how he believes Ronaldo is now even more effective than Messi.

Judging players from different eras is an impossible task, but Pele says he could have been even better had referees given strikers the protection they get in the modern game – a point which could equally be applied to Maradona.

"In my day we just didn't have the same protection as there is today. I reckon with today's rules I could have scored 1 000 goals more," opined Pele, who famously netted a tally of 1 281.

Even a World Cup coronation for Messi or Ronaldo will not entirely end the debate – the Portuguese famously said two years ago of their rivalry that "you cannot compare a Ferrari with a Porsche because it's a different engine."

But it would remove the main argument of those who maintain that until either man captures that missing trophy they cannot elbow Pele and Maradona aside.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari tells Brazil to sharpen up

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari on Monday urged his troops to sharpen up a day before their World Cup warm-up with Panama.

Scolari blasted his side after a Sunday training session which he said he "didn't like at all" owing to poor marking and perceived sloppiness.

And with only 10 days to go to their opening World Cup match against Croatia in Sao Paulo, the man who led the Selecao to glory in 2002 insisted it was time to crack the whip.

On Sunday, "the marking was sloppy, we left spaces in the middle of the park and took up questionable positions," Scolari observed.

"We cannot let our attitude slip a week before the Cup. We cannot lose the identity which we forged at the Confederations Cup," the dress rehearsal his side won almost 12 months ago.

Tuesday's test at the Serra Dourada stadium in Goiania, some 200 km from the capital Brasilia, is the penultimate chance for Scolari to look at options in reserve.Friday against Serbia in Sao Paulo is his side's final friendly outing before the real thing starts with the Croatians in a Group A also comprising Mexico and Cameroon.

Scolari, calling for more inventive subtlety and tactical nous from his charges, said the players know full well what he demands and expects.

"I urged them what I always do - to be serious and play each match as if it were the last."

Scolari can make up to six substitutions in the game against the Panamanians and said he would use the chance to run the rule over the options at his disposal.

Even so, against Croatia he will essentially keep faith with the players who saw off Spain in the Confederations final.

Scolari, who said he would have liked a few more days to prepare for the 12 June opener at Sao Paulo's Corinthians Arena, said Panama were not to be underestimated.

"They are a good side - we have been following their work. We have to take the game seriously and see how we are coming along."

Scolari stressed no side in Brazil's group would be easy to beat, noting Cameroon are coming off a friendly draw with Germany, no less.

Some 20 000 fans were on hand to see Brazil train under Scolari's watchful gaze and jostle to catch a glimpse of the likes of Neymar.

Resting skipper Thiago Silva, plus midfielders Paulinho and Fernandinho, Scolari is set to give Ramires a start ahead of Hernanes and Dante.

Hulk is also set to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation, completing, along with Oscar and Neymar, a trident supporting spearhead Fred.

Cesar Azpilicueta believes Spain can benefit from Brazil pain

Spain fullback Cesar Azpilicueta believes his team can benefit from the experience of losing last year's Confederations Cup final to Brazil as they bid to retain the World Cup.

Spain have also won the previous two European Championships and qualified for this month's tournament in Brazil by taking 20 points from a possible 24.

They were, however, outplayed in the Confederations Cup final by the host nation.

"It's in Brazil and Spain won the last one so obviously it's a massive tournament which everybody is looking forward to. We have experience from last year when we played in the Confederations Cup in Brazil," Azpilicueta said.

"The World Cup is obviously different but we know what we can expect although we will have to adapt to the conditions very quickly," he told the website of his English club Chelsea.

Azpilicueta has joined up with the Spain squad on the back of a strong finish to the season with Chelsea in which he was named the team's Players' Player of the Year.

Spain play their first World Cup match against the Netherlands in Group B on June 13 and Azpilicueta knows the importance of a good start.

"In the last World Cup Spain began by losing against Switzerland which nobody expected," he said.

"That tells you every game is very difficult, you can't look any further than the first game, which for us is against Holland and that's all we can focus on for now."

It will be the first major international tournament for the 24-year-old and he feels his versatility is a bonus for the Spain squad.

"When you have a group of 23 and a lot of games it helps having players who can play in different positions," he said.

"It helps you in terms of bringing other players into the group who play in different positions, that maybe you need more. This is what I've been working towards and I'm happy to play where the manager needs me."

Germany national Lahm, Neuer concerns dismissed

Germany national team coach Joachim Loew moved to play down concerns over the fitness of captain Philipp Lahm and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer on Friday.

Bayern Munich defender Lahm, who's working his way back from an ankle injury, was seen grimacing after his participation in Friday's session at the team's pre-World Cup training camp in the Italian Alps was cut short.

However, Loew allayed fears over Lahm's condition.

"It was a precationary measure. He will rest this afternoon and do some more ball work on Saturday," Loew said at a press conference.

Lahm's fellow Bayern teammate Neuer was on the practice field for the second day running but again protected his troublesome right shoulder.

"He did a number of exercises. He still has another week of work and we're thinking he will be back in goal by (next) Friday," said Loew, without giving any indication whether his first-choice keeper would play in Germany's final pre-tournament friendly against Armenia on June 6.

The squad will return to Germany on Saturday ahead of a friendly with Cameroon in Moenchengladbach on Sunday, the day after which Loew will be required to cut three players from his squad before finalising his 23-man list for Brazil.

Following next Friday's friendly against Armenia, the Germany squad will fly out to Brazil the following day.

Germany start their World Cup campaign against Portugal in Salvador on June 16 and also face Ghana and the United States in Group G.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe blow for Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo, who is still feeling the effects of a thigh injury, and Real Madrid teammate Pepe will both miss Portugal's World Cup warm-up match against Brazil-bound Greece on Saturday.

"Ronaldo will be with us but will not play... and Pepe will also not play," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said Friday.

Ronaldo sustained the injury late in the season, but Bento said there was no specific timetable to get the Portugal captain back on the pitch.

"We're not going to set down a calendar for his return to competition," Bento said, adding that he wanted to take "no risk".

Central defender Pepe, making his comeback after a calf injury, trained on Thursday and Friday, having remained on the bench during Real's Champions League final victory over Atletico Madrid last Saturday, Ronaldo having played all 120 minutes in that match.

Portugal leave Monday for the United States where they will play Mexico and the Republic of Ireland in friendlies.

The Portuguese have been drawn in Group G at the World Cup and will face Germany on June 16 in Salvador, the United States a week later in Manaus and then Ghana on June 26 in Brasilia.