Countdown to global clash of the titans

Neymar, Ronaldo and Messi arrive at team bases as Cup fever builds

SOCHI, Russia - Neymar and his Brazil teammates landed on Russian soil in the early hours of Monday, fresh from beating Austria 3-0 in their final World Cup warmup match.

As the clock ticks down to Thursday's tournament opener in Moscow between Russia and Saudi Arabia, five-time World Cup champion Brazil arrived at its Black Sea base in Sochi around 3 am local time.