Key Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku trained for the first time in Brazil on Wednesday after suffering an injury scare and came through unscathed in a timely boost for their World Cup hopes.
Lukaku, who spent a productive campaign on loan at Everton from Chelsea last season, picked up an ankle injury in a physical friendly against Tunisia on Saturday.
'FINE'
England striker Wayne Rooney said on Wednesday that he expects Manchester United team-mate Danny Welbeck to be fit to face Italy on Saturday despite an injury scare.
"Danny will be fine," Rooney told a press conference at England's Rio de Janeiro training base ahead of his side's World Cup Group D opener in Manaus.
"I'm sure he'll be ready for Saturday. He's just not risked anything today, but he'll train on Friday and will be available for Saturday I'm sure."
DEAD-BALL
Chile star Arturo Vidal gave his team a timely boost just two days before their opening World Cup clash against Australia by training with his team-mates.
The 28-year-old midfielder has been struggling with inflammation in his knee following an operation on his meniscus just over a month ago.
But the Juventus dead-ball specialist trained with his team-mates on Wednesday, the first time he has been able to do so since making a surprise 15-minute cameo comeback a week ago in the 2-0 friendly victory over Northern Ireland.
Vidal joined the squad a few minutes after they had come out to train at their Toca Da Raposa II base in Belo Horizonte, and showed no signs of discomfort.
Until Wednesday, Vidal had been training alone, undergoing physiotherapy and doing specific exercises to improve the condition of his knee.
However, in the 15 minutes of training that were open to the press, Vidal clearly wasn't pushing it, nor striking the ball with any power, although he was kicking again with both feet.
MISS TRAINING
Fears about the fitness of England forward Danny Welbeck were confirmed on Wednesday when he missed a training session ahead of his side's opening World Cup game against Italy.
British newspaper reports on Tuesday claimed the Manchester United player had been forced out of a closed training session with a thigh injury and he did not emerge for training at England's Rio de Janeiro base on Wednesday.
Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is working his way back to fitness after damaging knee ligaments in a friendly against Ecuador, was also absent.
The Football Association has yet to comment on Welbeck's injury status.
BROKEN HEEL
Heiner Mora saw his World Cup finals hopes dashed on Wednesday as the fullback withdrew from the Costa Rica squad because of a broken heel.
The 29-year-old suffered the injury in a training session on Tuesday at their base in Santos.
Costa Rica, who have called up Dave Myrie as a replacement, begin their campaign against Copa America champions Uruguay on Saturday.
Myrie, 26, made his international debut in 2010 but has had a nomadic club career taking in 10 clubs in four different countries.
The Costa Ricans, whose best performance at a World Cup was reaching the last 16 in 1990, also play Italy and England.
HEAVILY STRAPPED
England forward Danny Welbeck is a doubt for his side's opening World Cup game against Italy on Saturday due to injury, according to British media reports on Tuesday.
Several newspapers reported that the Manchester United player was forced to limp out of a training session at England's Urca training base in Rio de Janeiro, having taken to the field with his right thigh heavily strapped.
Welbeck, 23, started two of England's three pre-tournament warm-up games and was in contention to start the Group D opener against Cesare Prandelli's Italy in Manaus.
His absence would potentially open the door for Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling.
The 19-year-old missed England's 0-0 draw with Honduras on Saturday after being sent off in their previous game against Ecuador, but he has impressed England coach Roy Hodgson with his performances in training.
AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ivory Coast's African Player of the Year Yaya Toure is doubtful for their opening World Cup group game with Japan on Saturday, coach Sabri Lamouchi told the Ivorian press on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old Manchester City star - whose performances and 20 goals for his club last season were instrumental in bringing them the Premier League title - is still struggling with a hamstring injury he suffered in the title deciding win over West Ham on the last day of the league season.
"He finished the season injured and worn out," said Lamouchi.
"He has not yet resumed team training and has to undergo a rehabilitation programme.
"We are going to do everything in our power so that he will be able to start or at least come on during the game with Japan."
Oxlade-Chamberlain in line for Uruguay return
England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could return from injury in time for his side's second World Cup game against Uruguay, manager Roy Hodgson revealed on Tuesday.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, 20, damaged ligaments in his right knee during a friendly against Ecuador last week, but he trained wearing a protective brace on Monday.
Although he is expected to miss England's opening Group D match against Italy in Manaus on Saturday, Hodgson is hopeful that the Arsenal man will be available to face Uruguay in Sao Paulo on June 19.
England's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rests his injured leg during a soccer training session in Rio de Janeiro June 9, 2014. (REUTERS)
"Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain did very well," Hodgson told a press conference at England's Urca training base in Rio de Janeiro.
"You may have seen the running he was doing - very positive. He was running so well and so fast and we will be stepping up his recovery in due course.
"We are hoping (he will be back) for Uruguay, but there's no guarantee."
Hodgson also allayed fears about the fitness of captain Steven Gerrard, who cut short his training session on Monday after complaining of tightness in his groin.
"We did a training session where the players who didn't play on Saturday (against Honduras) trained, and some of the others did a warm-down session," Hodgson said.
"Steven did some extra work at the end of that training session. There's nothing wrong with him and I don't understand that story at all."
Neymar gives Brazil momentary scare
Brazil briefly held its breath when Neymar went down clutching his right ankle in training on Monday, but the incident turned out to be nothing more than a momentary scare.
The fact that the 22-year-old forward went down when none of his national team colleagues were near him suggested a potential problem, just three days ahead of Brazil's opening World Cup game against Croatia in Sao Paulo.
However, the striker quickly got back up and finished the training game at the Selecao's Granja Comary base in Teresopolis.
A sprain to Neymar's right ankle earlier this year sidelined him from Barcelona's ranks for just under four weeks.
STAR DUO
Portugal coach Paulo Bento is weighing up whether to gamble on both Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe in Tuesday's friendly with the Republic of Ireland, as the star duo race to be fit for the World Cup.
The Brazilian showpiece begins on Thursday and the Portuguese face the strongly fancied Germany on June 16 in the so-called 'Group of Death', which also includes Ghana and the USA.
But neither of the Real Madrid aces have been able to play a full part in Portugal's preparations and have missed the last two warm-up games, a barely deserved 1-0 win over Mexico and a dull 0-0 draw with Greece.
Bento would have hoped that the game against the Irish in New Jersey, in the United States, would be a final chance to fine-tune his squad with the Germany clash less than a week away.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during training June 9, 2014 in Florham Park, New Jersey. (AFP)
But instead it has taken on extra significance and all eyes will be on how long - if at all - Bento gives Ronaldo, Pepe and Raul Meireles, another key player whose preparations have been disrupted by injury.
"Two of them trained on Saturday and Sunday and Pepe will train today," Bento revealed on Monday.
"Their situation will depend on how they respond to training and we'll see what our decision will be for tomorrow's match.
"It's always difficult to train without the full squad and it's always difficult to prepare for a big match like the German one without all the players fit."
Gerrard struggles in England training
England captain Steven Gerrard managed only light training on Monday ahead of the World Cup as he struggled with what was termed as a minor groin strain.
Gerrard, 34, did only a few runs down the touchline as the main squad was put through a punishing schedule at the Urca military base in Rio de Janeiro.
The Liverpool midfielder went inside before the end of the session. England staff said it was a minor ailment and they had no doubt Gerrard would be ready for England's first Group D match against Italy on Saturday.
Gerrard missed half of England's 0-0 draw with Honduras on Saturday as a precaution.
England's Steven Gerrard during a soccer training session in Rio de Janeiro, June 9, 2014. (REUTERS)
England staff are gradually building up rehabilitation for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as he recovers from a knee ligament injury suffered against Ecuador last week.
The 20-year-old Arsenal star took part in intense sprint workouts with a brace on his knee.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is unlikely to take any part in the early Group D games against Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica.
Chile still sweating on Vidal fitness
Key midfielder Arturo Vidal remains an injury doubt for Chile ahead of their World Cup opener against Australia on June 13 in Cuiaba.
The Juventus dead-ball specialist again did not train with his team-mates at their base in Belo Horizonte on Monday.
Vidal, 28, has been struggling with inflammation in his knee since undergoing an operation on May 7 due to a meniscus problem.
Chile's midfielder Arturo Vidal sits during a training session at Toca da Raposa in Belo Horizonte, on June 9, 2014. (AFP)
He made a surprise comeback in last Wednesday's 2-0 friendly victory over Northern Ireland, playing 15 minutes, but has not since been able to train with his team-mates.
Tests carried out on Saturday revealed he had inflammation under his right kneecap.
Vidal trained apart with some light jogging during the 15 minutes Chile's training session was open to the media, before kicking a ball, but only with his left foot.