Only 72,000 lucky spectators can be in the Olympic Stadium for the eagerly awaited quarter-final but millions more will take to the streets of Germany to watch it on giant screens.

It is a phenomenon of this World Cup that instead of sitting in front of their TVs at home, Germans have been going to fan areas set up around the country to watch the action on giant screens.

There they have mingled with visitors from around the world, creating an atmosphere that has exceeded the organisers' wildest dreams.

More than 11 million people have come to the fan zones so far, and millions more will follow in the buildup to the final on July 9.

The biggest hit of all has been the so-called Fan Mile which leads up to Berlin's best-known monument, the Brandenburg Gate.

On Friday, fans young and old will gather at the Gate ahead of the 1500 GMT kickoff, but they had better be there hours in advance.

For Germany's last game, the 3-0 breeze against Ecuador on Sunday, the police were forced to close the gates for safety reasons after 750,000 people packed in.

Stefan Mey, a 25-year-old Berliner draped in the German flag, was on the Fan Mile to watch France beat Spain on Tuesday and said he would be back on Friday for the Germany match.

"I've just started a new job, but I'll be leaving early to get down here.

"Normally I hate football, but I just love coming for the atmosphere which is so relaxed and cool.

"I am wearing the flag because it's OK now, it's just normal patriotism like in other countries."

Many commentators have remarked that Germany has finally seemed at ease with itself at this World Cup after decades when overt displays of patriotism were frowned on because of the horrors committed by the Nazis.

Claudia Bruckner and Verena Masmann, both 16, from Aue in eastern Germany said they had been to the Fan Mile every day of a class visit to Berlin.

"We are so sad because we have to leave Berlin early on Friday, but we'll watch the match on a big screen in our home town," Verena said.

"Of course we think Germany can win the World Cup, but Portugal have the cutest player, Cristiano Ronaldo."

Argentinians will be joining the crowd too, said Carlos Delprestito, 48, who is leading a tour group from Buenos Aires.

"Some of our group have tickets for the match, but the others will come here. It is a fantastic, friendly atmosphere.

"I am not surprised how great it has been because Germany is football-mad, perhaps even more than Argentina."

Elsewhere in Berlin, bars were ordering in extra beer for Friday's onslaught and any establishment yet to order a widescreen TV was scrambling to do so.