Recap: World Cup Day One

Tweet us @DW_Sports with your predictions, opinions, thoughts, pictures and videos from wherever you are in the world. We'll include the best in our live blog today. All times below in local German time (UTC+2).

20:00 - That's all for our live blog of day one with two hours until kick-off. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @DW_Sports for the latest coverage of the opening ceremony and of tonight's match between Brazil and Croatia.

19:44 - Brazil win and Neymar to shine ...

19:36 - No pressure ....

19:32 - Keeping an eye firmly on this evening's football, Bundesliga fans will be disappointed to know that Mario Mandzukic, Bayern's top scorer last season, misses the opening match at the World Cup through suspension. He has scored 13 goals in 48 internationals for Croatia.

19:25 - Forget Neymar, Bernard, and others, one interesting player this evening is former Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva. Yes, that sounds like a Brazilian name, but he'll be pulling on the jersey of Croatia. In fact, he's already done so more than 60 times since becoming a Croatian citizen in 2002. His spell at Arsenal was hampered by a serious injury, but he's now playing for Shakhtar Donestk.

Sammir of Getafe was born in Brazil, but will be on the opposite side tonight.

19:21 - Things shaping up nicely ahead of the opening ceremony. Those punters are arriving early at the stadium, that's for sure. Two-and-a-half hours left until kick-off.

19:15 - Encouraging statistics for Croatia? From FourFourTwo - "Croatia have only conceded 11 goals in 13 World Cup games (0.85/game). It's the best ratio among the 32 teams taking part in 2014."

19:12 - Locals have been given the half-day in work to celebrate the start of the World Cup. The protesters, however, continue to clash with police. One protester said: "I'm totally against the Cup. We're in a country where the money doesn't go to the community, and meanwhile we see all these millions spent on stadiums."

18:54 - The Croatian supporters are here.

18:52 - FIFA will introduce a "handshake of peace" before matches at the World Cup. The world's governing body has a partnership with the NPC (Nobel Peace Center). The handshake is standard practice in Norwegian football.

18:46 - Need an introduction to the venues for the World Cup? Check out our gallery of the 2014 stadiums at the bottom of the blog.

18:30 - OPEN THOSE DOORS! Fans enter the brand-new Sao Paulo stadium for the first time for a World Cup match. The ground already filling up quickly, by all accounts. Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez already pictured there, as well.

18:15 - Sao Paulo will be vibrant, fun-filled and lively this evening for the opening ceremony. Expect the usual glitz, glamour, mixed with a dose of Samba. Both cities were as bright as a button in the early hours of this morning. This shot comes from the International Space Station.

18:10 - Clashes seem to have come to a halt. Protesters dispersing with the focus, perhaps, now on the match this evening. It wouldn't be surprising to see more protests post-match.

18:05 - Fans already packing the Sao Paulo subway on the way to the new stadium. The city was preparing for major disruption, had a planned strike been carried out yesterday.

17.45 - Five people have been injured in the clashes in Sao Paulo, according to the Reuters news agency.

17:30 - Four-and-a-half hours to go until kick-off between Brazil and Croatia. Remember and complete your DW World Cup predictions for the tournament.

17:25 - The people's game? Just 26,636 tickets went to public sale out of 62,600 for tonight's opening match in Sao Paulo. A FIFA spokesperson confirmed 11,500 tickets had still been unclaimed for World Cup matches, including matches between Chile and Australia.

17.20 - Some early pictures from Sao Paulo following street clashes.

17:00 - It has been an eventful hour - protests kicking off in Sao Paulo, build-up to tonight's Brazil-Croatia opener and clashes with police. A CNN reporter was reportedly hit by a stun grenade in the city. Click here for our story.

16:45 - Aside from street protests, there were two strikes this morning at Rio's two main airports, causing disruption for several flights. Baggage handlers, and other airport staff, threatened to continue their protests over pay.

16:35 - Initial protests broken up by state police, but a new protest march is underway in Sao Paulo. CNN confirm two of their journalists injured in clashes with police.

16:20 - Some impressive pieces of art work surrounding the social concerns at the 2014 World Cup. The hashtag #NeedFoodNotFootball has trended on Twitter and some of Rio's most talented street artists have got involved. Have you seen any powerful pieces of art?

16:00 - Protests underway in Sao Paulo.

15:52 - Clashes with police reported from Sao Paulo. Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades at protesters who had gathered at a local subway station, according to the AFP agency. One protester has been reportedly arrested. Images of the violence were shown on Globo TV.

15:11 - Pope Francis has delivered his pre-World Cup message and hopes for "solidarity" among those watching the tournament.

"My hope is that, besides being a sporting feast, the World Cup can become a feast of solidarity among peoples," he said in his message. "Sport is a school of peace. It teaches us to build peace. To win, we must overcome individualism, selfishness, all forms of racism, intolerance and manipulation of people."

15:00 - More numbers - but interesting ones. Who has the toughest group at the World Cup? This is based on insurable value.

14:45 - The World Cup in lots of numbers.

14:35 - Lukas Podolski has tweeted about the opening day of the World Cup. He will be crucial for Germany in Brazil following the injury to Marco Reus. Have you read @JonBloggs66 article on why the DFB-team need Podolski's drive?

14:25 - A history of the FIFA World Cup in official posters - from 1930 to 2014. What is your favorite? or the most iconic poster?

14:13 - Still looking for a place to stay in Brazil? This legend is offering up his apartment for the tournament.

14:05 - Our man on the ground is Titus Chalk and he's given us a flavor of what is happening in Brazil ahead of the competition. Click here to read his DW Sports blog.

14:00 - The day is finally here! The opening day of the World Cup. We're eight hours from kick-off in Sao Paulo where Brazil will open the 20th edition against Croatia. The locals will be sitting down to breakfast, as we speak. But a fairly unpredictable day lies in store with strikes at two of Rio's airports and protests planned for the afternoon.