TERESOPOLIS, Brazil (AFP) — Brazil’s World Cup squad were forced to run the gauntlet of 200 striking teachers yesterday as they headed for their tournament base camp against a backdrop of public anger over the cost of staging the event.

“An educator is worth more than Neymar,” teachers chanted, referring to the star striker, as the team bus edged through the protesters from Rio de Janeiro’s international airport to the squad’s base about 90 kilometres (60 miles) away at Teresopolis in the hills north of Rio.

Despite a heavy police presence, the demonstrators managed to hold up the team’s convoy long enough to plant anti-World Cup stickers on their bus before it finally eased past the throng.

At the squad’s Granja Comary training complex, where they were met by more protests, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said his charges have what it takes to win the country’s sixth World Cup.

“We have a great mix (of youth and experience). The young players have experience having played at the top level in Europe,” he told Globo television.

The players — minus Marcelo, given dispensation to fly in late after winning the Champions League late Saturday with Real Madrid — gathered after breakfast for their bus transfer and arrived at their training complex around midday.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said Marcelo would arrive today.

But the protests were all too visible for the players. Protesters shouted their trademark “There will be no Cup” slogan in easy earshot.

Some tried to block the team bus from leaving Rio, but the driver dodged them and accelerated away.

“The Cup does not interest me! We want more money for health and education,” protesters bellowed.

The teachers went on strike in Rio state on May 12, demanding a salary increase of 20 per cent.

Even diehard fans who had turned out to greet the team and wave the flag amid tight security around the training complex were frustrated as they barely got a glimpse of their heroes, hidden behind tinted glass.

“I came from Mage (about 40 kilometres away) especially to see Neymar, but unfortunately I couldn’t see anything. What a shame — the bus just sped past,” said Marineide, 40, who had come with her two daughters.

To ensure Brazil have the best possible conditions to prepare, the CBF earlier this year gave the training complex a multimillion-dollar facelift.

The facilities include 39 individual rooms with king-size beds and several full-size pitches where Scolari will prepare the team before they play the opening match of the tournament against Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12.

But such luxurious details have angered a populace demanding urgent investment in infrastructure, health and education.

A small group of protesters gathered outside the facility, where one banner read, in English: “Billions for the FIFA World Cup, no housing for the victims of the heavy rains (of) 2011. Do you think it is fair?”

Torrential rains claimed more than 900 lives in

the Teresopolis

region days after the president, Dilma Rousseff, took office.

Rosangela Castro, a local teacher, said: “It is a real scandal they spent more than 15 million reals (US$7 million) to refurbish this training centre and billions on the World Cup.”

Police will stand guard 24 hours a day at Granja Comary to ward off any trouble.

Brazil has been hit by a wave of strikes and protests ahead of the World Cup and elections in October. Police, teachers, bank security guards and bus drivers have staged disruptive strikes in recent weeks.