FIFA World Cup - scares and injuries

Cristiano Ronaldo is "100 percent" fit and ready for Portugal's opening World Cup match against the powerful Germans, William Carvalho said on Friday, hailing his team-mate as the best player in the world.

The Real Madrid star had ice applied to his troublesome left knee after training on Thursday, sparking fears over his fitness ahead of Monday's Group G opener.

But Angola-born midfielder Carvalho, speaking at Portugal's training base in Campinas, outside Sao Paulo, said: "I think he's now 100 percent fit."

Knee fine

Cristiano Ronaldo told Portuguese media that his troublesome left knee was fine on Thursday during a training session in which a fan ran onto the field to get his autograph.

Ronaldo, who has suffered tendinosis around the knee, gave a thumbs up to RPT television when asked if he was 100 percent physically and said "it's fine."

Around 10,000 fans watched the open training session in Campinas in a carnival atmosphere.

At one point, a woman ran onto the pitch to try and reach Ronaldo, evaded one security guard and ran another 40 metres before being brought down by another.

Ronaldo, who played in Portugal's 5-1 friendly win over Ireland on Wednesday, went over to sign his autograph on her shirt before the Portugal players threw shirts into the crowd amid hysterical scenes.

Manuel Neuer

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has recovered from his shoulder injury and will start Monday's World Cup match against Portugal, coach Joachim Loew said on Thursday.

Germany captain Philipp Lahm, who was also struggling with an injured ankle, is likely to play a holding midfield position rather than in the back four, a visibly relieved Loew told a news conference ahead of his team's Group G opening game against Portugal in Salvador.

"The injury situation is causing me less and less concern," Loew said.

"Manuel Neuer took part in training today and he is ready to go on Monday."

Neuer, Germany's number one goalkeeper for the past four years and pillar of their defence, injured his shoulder in Bayern Munich's German Cup final victory over Borussia Dortmund last month. The injuries had cast a shadow over Germany's World Cup training camp.

Neuer did not play in the friendlies against Cameroon and Armenia.

Mattia De Sciglio

First-choice Italy fullback Mattia De Sciglio hurt his right leg in a practice session Thursday and is being assessed for a muscle injury that could force him out of the World Cup.

The Italian team says De Sciglio was taken to a local hospital for tests. He was later ruled out of the opening Group D match against England at Manaus on Saturday.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has until 24 hours before the Azzurri's opening match to replace injured players.

If De Sciglio's injury is serious, Prandelli could draft in Andrea Ranocchia, who is with the squad as a 24th man.

Arturo Vidal

Coach Jorge Sampaoli made 17,000 million Chileans happy on Friday by declaring star player Arturo Vidal fit for Friday's World Cup "final" with Australia.

Vidal's presence could be vital as an opening win in Cuiaba would put either side in a position to challenge Group B giants Spain, the reigning champions, and the Netherlands for qualification.

The 28-year-old Juventus midfielder's participation was in jeopardy after struggling with an inflammation to his right knee following surgery on a meniscus problem last month. But allaying a nation's fears, Sampaoli disclosed that the dead-ball specialist's troubles were behind him.

"This story's over I think. The physio's done a marvellous job, Vidal's diagnosis is clear, there's a high chance he'll play.

"His injury was rather complicated. We will now make a decision on whether he starts on the pitch, or on the bench."

Romelu Lukaku

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.

Danny Welbeck

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 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.

Heiner Mora

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.

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.

Oxlade- Chamberlain

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, Hodgson is hopeful that the Arsenal man will be available to face Uruguay in Sao Paulo on June 19.