Just two weeks ago Neymar’s commitment to the Olympic team was questioned by Brazil’s fans.

The good vibes from Rio 2016's vibrant opening ceremony did not take long to fade this morning as reports emerged of athletes getting lost, fans stuck in queues and a fatal shooting witnessed by international film crews.

It’s not an Olympic sport but if Pat Hickey has his way, he’d be going for gold in the doping test hurdles.

Your one-stop guide to all the Olympic action featuring Irish athletes.

Russia made it to Rio by the skin of its teeth and it may see Putin suspend his bid for military glory, writes Nina L Khrushcheva

A group of heavily armed men stormed a Rio de Janeiro hospital to free a suspected drug trafficker, sparking a shootout with police that left a patient dead and a nurse and an off-duty policeman wounded.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Germany and Argentina lock horns tonight in a repeat of July’s World Cup final but international retirements and injuries mean Joachim Low and Gerardo Martino will field much-changed sides from that memorable night in Rio.

After five days of touring some of the country’s most famous tourist landmarks, this year’s crop of Roses finally planted themselves in the home of the world renowned competition, Tralee.

Thousands of Argentine football fans gathered on the golden sands of Copacabana beach gasped and then fell into silence when Germany scored a stunning extra-time goal to claim the World Cup title.

Shakira says the World Cup completely changed her life.

Shakira will perform at the World Cup closing ceremony.

Belgium 1 Russia 0

World Cup 2014 kicks off in nine days so Ger McCarthy looks at how some of the contenders and outsiders are shaping up ahead of their final friendlies before boarding the plane to Brazil.

There will an Irish influence, after all, at the World Cup with 10-year-old wonderkid Ciarán Duffy the centrepiece of the official McDonald’s television commercial for the tournament.

ONE DIRECTION TOP CALENDAR CHART

It was a frenzied start to Fifa’s attempt to fill the stands for next year’s World Cup in Brazil as fans applied for more than one million tickets in just seven hours.

More than 5,000 anti-government protesters marched near the Maracana stadium before a major football match, venting their anger about the billions the Brazilian government is spending on major sporting events rather than public services.

Thousands of demonstrators have flooded into a square in Brazil’s economic hub, Sao Paulo, for the latest in a historic wave of protests against the state of public transport, schools and other public services.

Neymar has put the finishing touches to his switch to Barcelona by signing a five-year contract at the Nou Camp this evening, the Spanish club have confirmed.

Glen Johnson hopes England can finally end their major tournament hoodoo and go beyond the quarter-finals in Brazil next year should they qualify.

BRAZIL’S 2014 World Cup will see potential travel trauma for fans — and the latest kick-off times ever for a finals tournament, with matches starting as late as 10pm, or 2am in Ireland.

Brazil’s 2014 World Cup will see potential travel trauma for fans – and the latest kick-off times ever for a finals tournament with matches starting as late as 10pm, or 2am in Ireland.

Police in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo have killed more than 11,000 people in the past six years, many execution-style, a report has claimed.

Manchester City will be anxious to check on Robinho’s fitness after the star forward was substituted with an injury during Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Colombia last night.

AN ambitious non-league football club yesterday launched an audacious bid to sign legendary Brazil strikers Zico and Careca.

FIFA have proposed to revive their World Club Championship in 2005.

Newcastle boss Bobby Robson could find himself being quizzed about Manchester United as the knockout stage for this season’s Champions League gets underway.