Protests Grow As Brazil Advance

Protests across Brazil have continued into a second week, as citizens continue to vent their anger at the progress of their team in the Confederations Cup.

Generally bemoaned by the footballing-world as a pointless tournament, the government of football-mad Brazil are growing increasingly worried that victory for the team in Sunday's final would cause mass-scale, violent protests across the South American country.

A Brazilian protester holds up a placard proclaiming 'Why couldn't we do what Tahiti did'?

Holding midfielder Paulinho, who scored the winner against Uruguay on Tuesday evening to the fury of millions, is said to be under police protection until the final. The news arrives after hundreds of members of the army were drafted in to protect the Brazil squad during their daily training sessions. Neymar, who has attracted extra vitriol for almost single-handedly leading Brazil to the final, is said to be under the watchful eye of up to 37 Brazilian Lieutenants, for his own safety.

Despite pleas from the Brazilian prime minister that the team would voluntarily submit to Uruguay in the semi-final, Uruguay's voluntary submission proved too much for Brazil's attempted voluntary submission, as Uruguay fell to an impressively submissive 2-1 defeat. 

The ugly scenes in Brazil contrast heavily with those across the continent in Uruguay, where a street party in Montevideo was attended by an estimated 500,000, who were there to express their delight that the team would not be winning the Confederations Cup this year. Edinson Cavani was singled out for particular praise as he managed to appear almost completely invisible throughout the tournament.

The street party in Montevideo, where Cavani was said to have attended, but was seen by nobody (again)

Leading figureheads of the protests in Brazil have warned of further protests in the wake of the victory against Uruguay, citing the example of Tahiti as a team that Brazil should be looking to emulate. Their lack of interest in the tournament was such that they conceded 24 goals and registered a solitary strike, yet still returned home with their heads held high. With the situation in Brazil as it is, it is unlikely that Neymar and co. will be able to do the same.