Defending champions Spain leave for Brazil optimistic about their chances of a repeat triumph and undaunted by Friday's opening game against the Netherlands in a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final.

"We don't have any fear. But we do have respect," Spain manager Vicente del Bosque said. "They are runner-up from the last World Cup so we have full respect for Holland."

England winger Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain will be fit to take part in the World Cup after making good progress with his knee injury, manager Roy Hodgson said after Saturday's 0-0 draw with Honduras.

Oxlade-Chamberlain picked up the injury in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Ecuador and Hodgson had said he may have to wait until 24 hours before England's Group D opener against Italy on June 14 before deciding whether the Arsenal wide-man could be part of his squad.

A strike by subway workers snarling Brazil's biggest city threatened Saturday to disrupt the World Cup as President Dilma Rousseff denounced a "systematic campaign" against the tournament.

The work stoppage over wage demands by staff has caused massive traffic jams for the past three days in Sao Paulo as the city prepares to host the opening game.

Qatar faced growing pressure over its hosting of the 2022 World Cup Sunday after fresh allegations over the role disgraced former top football official Mohammed bin Hammam played in its bid.

Last week, Britain's Sunday Times newspaper said it had obtained millions of emails, documents and bank transfers showing that bin Hammam paid over $5 million from slush funds to win support in the bidding process.

Chile's midfield star Arturo Vidal is a doubt to face Australia in Cuiaba as he battles a knee inflammation, La Roja's medical staff revealed at their Belo Horizonte camp Saturday.

Vidal only just made the squad to face the Australians, Spain and the Netherlands following knee surgery last month and he is still recuperating.

Fernando Alonso did his best to shrug off Ferrari's disappointment on Saturday after he had been out-paced by Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams in qualifying for Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix.

The 32-year-old Spaniard admitted both Williams and Red Bull had done a better job after he qualified only seventh and Ferrari team-mate Finn Kimi Raikkonen was down in 10th.

Maria Sharapova won her second French Open title in three years at Roland Garros on Saturday, defeating Romania's Simona Halep 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 in a gripping final, the first to go the full distance in Paris in 13 years and the second longest on record.

It was the 27-year-old Russian's fifth Grand Slam title, bringing her level with Martina Hingis on the all-time list and it came 10 years after she won her first major at Wimbledon 2004.

Romelu Lukaku has said he may have to leave Chelsea if the Premier League giants sign Diego Costa.

The 21-year-old Lukaku has spent the past two seasons on loan at English top flight rivals West Bromwich Albion and Everton, with Jose Mourinho the latest Chelsea boss seemingly happy to do without the Belgian striker.

Germany winger Marco Reus is set to miss the World Cup after suffering a partially torn ankle ligament in Friday's 6-1 friendly win over Armenia.

The 25-year-old was rushed to hospital after twisting his left ankle just before the half-time break in Mainz and a scan revealed the extent of the injury.

Maria Sharapova exploded onto the international scene 10 years ago as a 17-year-old with a spectacular straight sets demolition of Serena Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon final.

On Saturday at Roland Garros she hopes to end a decade of top tennis by defeating Simona Halep of Romania for her fifth Grand Slam title.