Joy for the hosts

The whole of Brazil was nervous - and so was the national team. The first few minutes of the opening match of the World Cup made that very clear, and shortly after kick-off the local fans turn silent.

Brazil defender Marcelo deflected the ball into his own net and Croatia took the lead. People walked around the street festival "Alzirao", in the Rio suburb of Tijuca, with long faces.

Some 90 minutes later, the people were in joyous mood. Brazil turned the game around and have gone on to win emphatically, 3-1. Celebrations erupt across the country.

People are relieved: Brazil, a country which has been almost in a state of emergency for a year now, has passed its first day as tournament hosts with flying colors.

Euphoria and Depression

Since the World Cup was awarded to Brazil in 2007, the country has been wavering between ecstasy and depression.

Now that the tournament has started, it is the same story. "Either Brazil goes out in the group stage, or we win the title," says sports teacher Pelé da Praia, who coaches volleyball on Ipanema beach. "There is nothing in between."

"There will be no World Cup" – that's the slogan protesters have been chanting for a year now, as they demonstrate over the associated costs of staging the mega-event.

According to the demonstrators, the $10 billion dollars (7.37 billion euros) should have been invested in other infrastructure projects. But after the first goal from Neymar, one thing is clear - there will definitely be a World Cup in Brazil.

"Neymar saved our country," says columnist Ricardo Noblat in his blog for the Brazilian daily "O Globo." To honor the 21 year old striker, Noblat quotes from a football song from the famous Brazilian poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade: "The player's jump is a triumph over the sad laws of gravity."

No chaos, just goals

In fact, Neymar's skills last night made more than 200 million Brazilians jump up out of their seats. Finally, it was a night of success and respect, rather than one of frustration and chaos.

Just a few days ago, there were doubts the Sao Paulo stadium would be finished in time. And, there was concern that a strike from public transport workers would lead to horrible traffic jams.

The worry was that Brazil would embarrass itself in front of the world with power outtages, strikes or streetblocks - and this was a real issue for many fans here.

The delays on the construction and renovations of the World Cup stadiums and airports was even causing well-tested Brazilian stress levels to rise.

The long-running anger bubbled to the surface live on camera during the opening ceremony.

While Brazil's players were welcomed with warm applause as they first appeared out on the pitch, fans in the stadium booed and whistled Dilma Rousseff and Sepp Blatter for more than 30 seconds.

Activists versus fans

In Rio's bars and public viewing spots fans joined in with the boos. "Dilma has to go," said a demonstrator at Copacabana beach, before adding controversially: "If Brazil loses, perhaps Dilma will lose the next Presidential elections, on October 5."

The fact that some protesters are supporting Brazil's opponents is not proving to be popular with local fans. As a group of activists on Copacabana celebrated the goal from Croatia with cheering and then proceeded to boo Neymar's equalizer, the police got involved.

A human barrier with 200 police personnel was created in order to hold fans and demonstrators apart.

In Sao Paulo, as police also used force to break up violent rallies the division between fans and activists became even more apparent.

Unionists, representatives of the homeless and hard core activists ran through empty streets in skirmishes with the police.

A sign hanging from the balcony of one apartment block summarizes what many Brazilians think: "Protests happen at the ballot box. Dilma has to go, the World Cup should continue."

Volleyball player Pele da Praia is more optimistic after the 3-1. "Brazil isn't out, now we can get to the final!" But he isn't celebrating just yet.

After the celebrations from the game, his adrenaline is back down to normal, he says.

Football is less important again, he has to get back to work. In just a few hours he needs to be back on Ipanema beach, coaching volleyball again.