World Cup Fanatics Head Overland For Brazil

By Paul Kelso, Sports Correspondent, Rio de Janeiro

While the football has lit up the stadiums at Brazil's World Cup, the host cities have been illuminated by the army of supporters from around the world who have converged here.

The Brazilian government estimate that as many as 600,000 tourists have come to be part of the World Cup party, but there is probably no counting the real number who have travelled from across Latin America to be here.

Roger Zambrono Rojas: 'I sold my Colombia shirt to pay for the petrol'

While visitors from Europe, North America and Asia have flown in, fans from Brazil's neighbours have crossed the borders by road in their thousands.

Few have travelled further however than the Colombians who have driven more than 3,000 miles from their home in Duitama, near Medellin, to Rio.

Roger Zambrono Rojas and Lizeth Soler are students, and together with Lizeth's boyfriend they embarked on their road trip almost two months ago.

Argentina's soccer team players attend a training session in Belo Horizonte

The vehicle is a much loved, customised Renault Four in yellow and green, with a bespoke spoiler.

Roger re-covered the seats in leather embroidered with World Cup logos to make the journey more comfortable, and a roof rack carries everything that won't go in the boot, including a barbecue, a tent and a kettle.

A small Colombian flag flutters on the roof, a reminder they are here to see their team take on Brazil in the quarter-finals on Friday.

They set out with a limited budget and have been forced to improvise when it comes to fuel and food.

Mauro Mignaqui: 'Argentina will win, we will take the trophy home'

"I sold my Colombia shirt for petrol money along the way and the guy who bought it from me gave me a Brazilian club shirt, Vasco de Gama, to replace it," says Roger.

"The truck drivers along the way have been really friendly. When they see we are Colombian they have given us food and drink to keep us going."

Lizeth says the chance to travel to a World Cup in Brazil was too good to miss despite the discomfort.

"It's not the biggest car but the new seats help. We are very proud to be following Colombia in Brazil," she said.

Colombia's national team players stretch during a practice session in Cotia

The camaraderie among supporters is evident along the beach. When the Renault declined to start, a group of Argentines offered a push start to help the Colombians on the long road to Fortaleza for the game against Brazil.

The northern end of the Copacabana seafront resembles a caravan park by the middle of the second week as supporters park up for the football.

Chileans were prominent among them in the build up to their game against Spain, however they were outnumbered by the Argentinians.

Colombia fans watch a broadcast of their match with Uruguay

An estimated 120,000 drove across the border to Porto Alegre for their group match in the most southerly venue, and many have stayed.

The influx prompted the authorities in Rio to turn part of the Samba-drome, normally used only for the Lent carnival, into an impromptu campsite. Argentines are the majority residents.

Mauro Mignaqui is a factory worker who has taken the summer off to travel up Brazil's Atlantic coast with a group of friends, surfing between matches.

"We all believe that Argentina will win, we all believe we will be taking the trophy home," he said.

Brazilians have proved perfect hosts so far, though they would rather they left empty handed.

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