Google doodle honours WC kick-off

Google has celebrated the start of the World Cup in Brazil with its latest Google doodle on its homepage, the Guardian Online reports.

The doodle features a ball in the Brazilian colours of green and yellow rolling across the screen, before a scene is unveiled that features some of the country’s most famous landmarks.

Excitement is reaching fever pitch in Brazil as the tournament is poised to begin. The manager of Brazil’s national side, Luis Felipe Scolari, has said: “For all Brazilians, I want to say our time has arrived. We want to go together. This is our World Cup.”

He was joined by Brazil’s star forward Neymar in ramping up the anticipation. “As Mr Scolari has said, the time has arrived, that all Brazilians and I think the whole world was waiting for,” said Neymar. “And we the players hope that the last day goes by very quickly. I am anxious, of course. But also I’m extremely happy of being where I am today. So I really hope I can help my team in the best possible way to fulfil the dream of us players, Brazilians, to win the World Cup.”

Away from the opening ceremony, the England side have concerns over the state of the pitch on which they will face Italy in Manaus on Saturday. Carlos Botella, the head groundsman for the Spain-based Royal Verd company which is responsible for the turf at Manaus and six other World Cup stadiums said: “We’ve started to implement an emergency plan to try to save the field and improve it as much as possible, but I don’t think it’ll be in good condition by the weekend.”

The England forward Wayne Rooney has also responded to criticism from his former Manchester United team-mate Paul Scholes, who suggested he might be in decline. “He was a great player at Man United, but I’ve never had his phone number and he’s never had mine,” Rooney said. “I’m sure he’s upset a lot of people at Man United because they see me as worthy of signing a new [five-year] deal at the club, so they obviously have a different opinion to Paul. But you’ll have to ask him. I don’t agree with what he’s said. Whether they are valid comments or not, you’ll have to ask him.”