RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — President Dilma Rousseff appealed to Brazilians to support the World Cup, using a nationally televised address less than two days before the tournament starts to rebuke the “pessimists” who complain the country shouldn’t be hosting the event.

Brazil’s World Cup preparations have stoked countless protests from those angered by the billions spent on the event while the quality of public services in the health, education, security and transport spheres is lacking.