If you're not a football fan in Brazil then you're probably best off locking yourself away on game day.

From early in the morning it's pretty hard to look anywhere without seeing yellow and green.

Whether it's the shirts, hats, flags the colours of the Selecao are impossible to avoid.

Even the street vendors clear away their usual wares and instead adorn their stalls with every type of football accessory.

Every Brazil game during the tournament is a national holiday (or half day) and there is a fervent sense of anticipation on morning of each match.

We're now half way through the World Cup and the anti-government protests talked about before the tournament have subsided.

It is unlikely that the protestors have changed their opinions on the astronomical cost of hosting a tournament while health, education and transport go under-funded, but they seem to have the taken as backseat to the irrepressible joy that only the football can bring.

Many say that the result of October's election depend on how the team fares and there are fears of a return in protests if Brazil are knocked out before the final.

Local journalist Michele Miranda says: "Before the World Cup started people many people were frustrated, but the charisma of Neymar, Felipe Scolari and the others is getting into the Brazilian's soul and people are happily supporting again".

In Saturday's knockout game against Chile, tens of thousands flocked to Copacabana to support their team, and their passionate rendition of their anthem showed that the vast majority of proud of their team and country.

With Brazil through to the quarters the sense of expectation will continue to rise.

Before the tournament began there were some who hoped for Brazil to lose so protests and public anger could re-ignite. Not any more.