Moscow calls for car-lite opening day

MOSCOW • Moscow authorities are pleading with locals not to drive in the run-up to tomorrow's World Cup opening match to avoid causing gridlock in the city.

The Russian capital of 12 million people will be receiving hundreds of thousands of visitors for the month-long event.

The city's transportation department also said some of Moscow's busiest roads will have to be closed off to general traffic to make way for dignitaries arriving for the opening ceremony.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Neymar the star attraction in Russia

SOCHI • Brazil's players attracted an army of excited youngsters - including one who managed to get onto the pitch for a selfie - as they held their first training session yesterday on Russian soil ahead of the World Cup which starts tomorrow.

Around 5,000 locals turned out to watch the five-time world champions, including superstar Neymar, train in a relaxed session at the Yug-Sport Stadium, next to the squad's base hotel in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi.

REUTERS

Just 60% of Brazilians keen on football: poll

ZURICH • Brazil's reputation as a football-mad country has been dented by a Nielsen Sports report which found that only 60 per cent of those interviewed said they were interested in the sport.

The United Arab Emirates (80 per cent) topped the survey, followed by Thailand (78 per cent).

REUTERS