The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil kicks off Thursday with a match between Brazil and Croatia, but there are plenty of other stories to talk about before the first game. Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal concluded their World Cup preparations with a 5-1 win over the Republic of Ireland Tuesday.

The Real Madrid striker, who missed his country's previous two warm-up games because of thigh and knee injuries, wasn't at his best during the one-sided friendly.

Portugal will start their World Cup assault against Germany in Group G, or the so-called "Group of Death," which also includes the USA and Ghana.

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