But the day fans of England have been waiting for has finally arrived – the Three Lions get their campaign started this evening against Italy.
As the pressure and tension starts to mount, you can take a break from the build-up by taking a look at the lighter side of the tournament here.
Don’t cross the Bosque
Are Spain missing a trick?
Vicente del Bosque, may have plenty to ponder after the reigning European Championship and World champions suffered a 5-1 defeat on Friday, but perhaps his side might stand a better chance if the old boy dusted off his boots.
Despite being 63 and retiring in 1984, it looks like Del Bosque has not lost any of his tiki-taka judging by the video below.
Swing when you’re winning – or not!
Some say there is no stopping him on the pitch – but it appears Eden Hazard has finally exposed his one weakness.
The Belgium midfielder, who was Chelsea’s player of the year last season, has been caught on the golf course with his international team-mates.
But, if this footage is anything to go by, it appears he needs to stick to the green of the football pitch.
Feeling hot, hot, hot
World Cup fever is sweeping the world – but it’s gone up in flames, literally, on the island of Java in Indonesia.
Students on the island turned up the heat by using a flaming coconut and playing football with it barefooted.
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘It’s like a hot potato’, but we think the perfectly named ‘fire football’ is taking it one step too far.
Watch the flaming fun they had below.
