Brazil's anti-World Cup anthem hits out at costs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwL3TxSeDmA

Rio de Janeiro: "Excuse me, Neymar, but during this World Cup I shan't be cheering for you."

Jennifer Lopez may be the star name behind Brazil's official World Cup anthem "We are One" but not everybody is singing from the same songsheet in the host nation, as evidenced by the launch of an anti-Cup song.

The ballad is the work of singer Edu Krieger, who has set to music his frustration at the governing "thieves" who have spent more than $11 billion on hosting a tournament in a country whose public services need a massive overhaul.

The song has received more than 60,000 Youtube hits since it was launched earlier this month.

The song starts off: "I'm sorry Neymar, but during this World Cup I won't be cheering for you," and adds that while "FIFA worries about standards, we're guided by thieves that play dirty to win.

"We won't be real champions spending over 10 billion to have the World Cup in the country," Krieger adds.

"We have beautiful and monumental stadiums (but) in the meantime schools and hospitals are about to fail," he sings plaintively, noting "an abyss between the two Brazils" -- the one of brand new, expensive stadiums on one hand and rank poverty on the other.

Looking back to Brazil's last triumph in 2002, Krieger sings: "Improvements where are they?

"Sorry Felipao (coach Luiz Felipe Scolari), our country didn't flourish."

Yet despite the expense of following their team, he recognizes that "you'll never stop loving our team wherever they go. I know supporter, it's you that is right."

Brazil is hosting its first World Cup since 1950 but many citizens have been protesting for months at the cost of the event and rancid corruption.

The protests began at last June's Confederations Cup, sparked initially by anger at bus fare hikes before mushrooming into more general demands for improvements in health and education.

Protests since the turn of the year have been smaller -- last year they drew more than a million people -- but have also become more radicalised and some have ended in violence.

Protest groups have vowed to disrupt the World Cup itself, which starts on June 12, when Brazil kick off the fiesta against Croatia.