Let The Games Begin

Here we go!

Finally! Let's get this (shit)show on the road, folks! Brazil vs. Croatia at 4pm EDT on ESPN, right? Right. Barney Ronay will kick us off with his article. He's in São Paulo for the match, don't you know? You want more previews? OK:

Brazil vs. Croatia: Preview

Brazil vs. Croatia: Preview II

Brazil vs. Croatia: Preview III

Brazil vs. Croatia: 50-50 Challenge

Tim Vickery: Neymar carries Brazil's hopes on slim shoulders

Jan Molby: Why Croatia’s masterful midfield can spoil Brazil’s party

Gabriele Marcotti: An opener featuring untypical styles

How To Watch

Lawro has all his predictions for Round One complete. Without further Freddy Adu, here are Lawro's First Round Predictions. He thinks the U.S. will get out of the group. Hmmmm.

Our mate Rob Kirby claims with some conviction that The Group of Death is not Group G, not Group B, but Group B. Why? Because if you come in second in Group B, you'll most certainly get Brazil in the next round. Ouch.

Meanwhile, Juan Mata is talking to Sid Lowe in anticipation of tomorrow's clash with The Dutch. Will there be blood? Chances are good.

Personalized room. Very nice.

Is this THE BIGGEST SPORTING EVENT EVER? Let's hope not.

Louise Taylor is The Guardian's Football Expert for the Northeast. As such, she's quite familiar with Sunderland's Jozy Altidore. Is Jozy at poor man's Emile Heskey? Ouch. Prove them wrong, son!

Top Tenner, yo! What else but World Cup Openers?

Hadley Freeman is in São Paulo and she likens the World Cup to Disneyland. The Editor was lucky enough to take in a lot of World Cup 2006 in Germany, and he can understand the comparison.

Gosh, there are still rumors to address amongst all this match madness:

The Mill. Plus One. Plus Plus One. Plus Plus Plus One.

We'll end today with this article on why Brazil should never have taken on the World Cup. "The World Cup has lost its innocence, but football’s soul can never be bought."

Onward!!

-SSN