Intro:

With just hours to go before hosts Brazil meet Colombia in the World Cup quarter-finals, both sets of fans vied for prime position along the promenade in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza on Friday.

Script:

With just hours to go before hosts Brazil meet Colombia in the World Cup quarter-finals, both sets of fans were looking for prime position along the promenade in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza on Friday.

Thousands crowded the beach for their own early morning preparations as others set up vigil outside the team hotels.

While the Central American team has been one of the most consistent packages of the tournament so far, local fans said there was no doubt about the result.

SOUNDBITE: (Portuguese) Eduardo Rocher, Brazil fan:

"Brazil is so much stronger. Colombia has done really well up until now, but it doesn't go any further than this."

Catalina Melendro, from Bogota who has been funding her trip around Brazil by putting on shows of her own footballing prowess, said they had no fear of the five-time world champions.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Catalina Melendro, Colombia fan:

"We are here to support our team, we are giving all we can to get behind them. Maybe we have run out of money, but the team are full of fuel and it's just a matter of grabbing it with football."

The game kicks off at 17:00 local time in the fully sold out, 67,000 capacity Arena Castelao.