Bringing Brazil to a standstill

They watched at remote cattle ranches on the edge of the Amazon. Thousands gathered before a giant screen on sun-drenched Copacabana beach in Rio.

Neymar rides to the rescue

He is small in stature and slightly built, but Neymar showed he can carry the hopes of a troubled nation with an electrifying performance in Brazil's World Cup opener.

Scolari salutes fans, praises oscar

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari praised the passionate home crowd in Sao Paulo for inspiring his players to fight back to win their World Cup opener against Croatia on Thursday.

World Cup tidbits

No time for naps

Croatians slam penalty call

Furious Croatia defender Dejan Lovren branded the penalty awarded against him during Brazil's 3-1 win in the World Cup opener a "scandal" and questioned the referee's right to be officiating at the soccer showcase.

Sorcerer banking on Balotelli

Sporting a bone through his nose, a jaguar's tooth pendant, multicolored feathers in his ears and tribal body tattoos, Amazonian sorcerer Jaraquii would not cause many England fans to give credence to his soccer 'expertise.'

Mansion rental too rich for Messi

Sky-high property prices in Brazil have claimed a new victim in Argentina forward Lionel Messi, the world's highest-paid soccer player.

Uphill battle for Socceroos

Australia veteran Tim Cahill told his young, untested teammates on Wednesday to cast aside any lingering pre-World Cup jitters and go out and enjoy the experience of locking horns with Chile in their World Cup opener.

Dutch want rematch revenge against Spain

Spain opens its World Cup title defense against the Netherlands on Friday in a repeat of the 2010 final - with the Dutch out for revenge.

Score board

Rooney craves redemption

The burden of delivering at the World Cup has consumed Wayne Rooney in the past, seeming to hinder his ability to deliver on soccer's biggest stage.

Blatter pitching manager challenges

FIFA president Sepp Blatter caught world soccer's ruling body by surprise on Wednesday when he proposed a new television review system that would go well beyond the goal-line technology already being used in some countries.