While there's hardly any doubt, FIFA President Sepp Blatter won't declare himself a candidate for re-election just yet.

He did reveal on Wednesday, though, how deeply hurt he was by hearing that European countries no longer want him in the role.

A confident Croatia is ready to spoil Brazil's party in their World Cup opener and continue a long tradition of first match upsets at the tournament.

With all the pressure on the host team, Croatia coach Niko Kovac said Wednesday that his team can deliver a "historic result" in Thursday's match in Sao Paulo.

Visibly dry, white stripes across the grass pitch at the Amazonian World Cup stadium have heightened concerns about the playing surface ahead of Saturday's key Group D match between Italy and England.

"Frankly, Manaus is in bad shape," Carlos Botella, head groundsman for the Royal Verd company which is responsible for the turf at Manaus and six other World Cup stadiums, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview on Wednesday. "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.

From the Amazon rainforest to Brazil's vast northeastern coast and bustling cities, throngs are gearing up to finally celebrate, and protest, the World Cup.

The tournament kicks off with Brazil taking on Croatia in the business hub of Sao Paulo on Thursday before teams from 32 nations criss-cross 11 other cities scattered across the massive South American country.

State-owned Tele Liban will not be granted the rights to broadcast the Brazil-hosted 2014 FIFA World Cup which kicks off on Thursday, according to Sports and Youth Minister Abdul Muttaleb Hennawi.

The minister announced Wednesday that he has received an email from the beIN Sports TV network in which it informed him that “TL will not be given the exclusive rights to air World Cup matches” in Lebanon.

Tipped by Pele as one of the tournament favorites and boasting its best ever squad for a World Cup, Chile must handle soaring and previously unseen expectations ahead of the team's opening match against big outsider Australia on Friday.

Spain and the Netherlands — the 2010 finalists — are hogging many of the headlines surrounding Group B, but Chile's talented lineup and impressive results over the past 18 months demand they are taken seriously. Not just as a group qualifier but as a nation that can go far in the tournament.

Spain and the Netherlands played out one of the most disappointing World Cup finals in history four years ago. They get a chance to make amends right away in Brazil.

In one of the quirks of the draw for Brazil, Spain opens the defense of its title against the country it beat in the championship decider in Johannesburg four years ago.

Andy Murray starts his bold venture with new coach Amelie Mauresmo on Wednesday as the Wimbledon champion opens his Queen's Club title defense against Paul-Henri Mathieu.

Murray sent shockwaves through the tennis world when he announced on Sunday that Frenchwoman Mauresmo was his choice to replace Ivan Lendl, who quit in March, as his coach for at least the grass-court season.

Roberto Mancini has left as manager of Galatasaray after just nine months in charge.

The Turkish club says Wednesday the two sides reached a "mutual agreement" to terminate the Italian's contract.

Philipp Lahm and Thomas Muller have signed two-year extensions to their Bayern Munich contracts, the Bavarian giants announced on the eve of the World Cup on Wednesday.

Both are currently preparing for Germany's opening World Cup match against Portugal on June 16 in Group G which also includes Ghana and the United States.