The World Cup uniforms will provide a carnival of color and fashion, from Brazil's bright yellow jerseys to the Netherlands' classic orange to Croatia's red checkered home kit and the superhero-inspired looks of Mexico.

The 2014 tournament, which opens Thursday when Brazil hosts Croatia, features the classics, the creative and the downright outlandish.

San Antonio made an NBA Finals-record 75.8 percent of their shots in the first half to set up a 111-92 victory over Miami on Tuesday to take a 2-1 series lead.

The Spurs made 19 of their first 21 shots and finished 25 of 33 in the first half, bettering the 75 percent shooting by Orlando against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a hand in a goal and hit a post on his return as Portugal concluded their World Cup preparations with a 5-1 romp over the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday. 

The Real Madrid striker, who missed his country's previous two warm-up games because of thigh and knee injuries, was not at his brilliant best for long periods of a one-sided friendly in the United States.

Temperamental Italian striker Mario Balotelli ensured headlines of the positive sort on Tuesday announcing on his Twitter account he is to marry his girlfriend the Belgian model Fanny Neguesha.

The 23-year-old AC Milan star -- who is in Brazil with his country's World Cup squad -- also posted a photograph on his Instagram account showing the beach in Rio de Janeiro where he proposed to his sweetheart.

South Africa's vuvuzelas will be quiet when the football World Cup kicks off in Sao Paulo on Thursday.

Four years after the tournament first came to Africa, many see the global event as a poisoned chalice for its host.

Police in Sao Paulo fired tear gas Monday to disperse protesters supporting a subway strike that has unleashed transport chaos three days before the Brazilian mega-city hosts the World Cup kick-off.

A group of about 150 strikers and protesters set fire to piles of garbage to block a central avenue in the Brazilian business hub, prompting some two dozen riot police to fire stun grenades and then tear gas to disperse them.

AC Milan dismissed manager Clarence Seedorf on Monday and replaced him with another club great, Filippo Inzaghi.

In a brief statement, Milan said it has handed youth-team coach Inzaghi a two-year contract until June 30, 2016.

Croatia's World Cup striker Mario Mandzukic on Monday demanded to leave German side Bayern Munich telling a local newspaper he could not follow coach Pep Guardiola's playing style.

His announcement could set off a scramble for his signature with several English Premier League sides said to be trailing the prolific scorer.

No cramps, no problems for LeBron James.

And with their superstar making it to the finish this time, the Miami Heat bounced back from a loss, just as they always do in the playoffs.

The World Cup kicks off Thursday and soccer fans from Rio de Janeiro's slums to southern India's playgrounds have been shining with their passion for the sport.

While national teams are arriving in Brazil, some in Latin America have set out to travel in the most unconventional ways to witness what they describe as a once-in-a-lifetime event. Some Chilean soccer fans built a wood-framed trailer from scratch to travel together and save money on lodging and meals.