'The tournament symbolises corruption which prevents Brazil from modernising' - Protester

The Brazilian government had hoped nationwide protests against the cost of staging the event would die out as the World Cup got under way but that has not happened.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in the country's largest cities to demonstrate about the billions of pounds spent on building stadiums and hosting the event.

Millions of Brazilians think the money would have been better spent improving public services like education and health.

Human Rights groups claim brutal police tactics such as the heavy use of tear gas and rubber bullets have deterred many protesters from turning out.

One demonstrator, who was dressed as Batman but did not want to give his name, said the tournament is tainted as it symbolises the corruption which is preventing Brazil from modernising.

"Its absurd! A country that doesn't have health, has no education, no security, no proper popular homes and yet they invested 30 billion Reias in a World Cup which brings nothing to us."

His views are not isolated but are ironic in a country where football is much more than a game - its place in the culture runs very deep.

Brazil has a dark past in the slave trade and dictatorship but football was always a unifying force.