On the streets of the country, regarded by many as football’s spiritual home, the mood was subdued on the eve of the big kick-off, with tickets still available for more than 15 matches, including ties featuring Germany, Italy and France. (..)
Visitors already in Brazil for the tournament have expressed disappointment at the atmosphere, describing it as “depressing” with a lack of facilities for fans. With only hours to go before the opening game, construction work is still taking place in parts of the country.