Barcelona full-back Dani Alves is an integral member of the Brazil squad gunning for glory in their home tournament this summer.
In effect, Alves and Brazil need to win just two more games to be crowned World Cup winners for a sixth time and send their home support of 200 million into raptures.
First up though, the Selecao face a daunting opponent in Germany and must overcome Joachim Low's side to take their place in Sunday's final.
Here, Alves talks to Adidas about his pride of playing for Brazil, potentially facing Barca teammate Lionel Messi in the final, and his dancing skills.
You’ve had fierce competition for your place in the Brazil defence over the years, has this driven you on?
There is always big competition for a place in the Brazil side, always. I have always given my best for the Selecao, but all the other players do that too, we are all desperate to pull on the shirt.
I think I am having a good run of form now, though, and I would love it if I could start every game for my country in the World Cup. It would mean so much to me.
What are Brazil’s chances of overall victory, do you think, and how much does home advantage count?
We have to be favourites. The home side is always favourites and we have a great squad, a great coach. It is all coming together and the Brazilian people won’t forgive us if we don’t give a good account of ourselves.
– VIDEO:Sport360°'s World Cup Show: Predictions for Brazil v Germany
Does that mean the pressure is on?
I wouldn’t say that, quite the opposite in fact. Football brings pressure but we are about going out there and expressing ourselves as a team, playing the game in the right way and doing it the Brazilian way. The home fans will help us a lot, they are our 12th man.
You may face your Barcelona team mate, Lionel Messi, in the final, which can’t be a pleasant thought…
That would be pretty incredible. It would be a massive match, the biggest the continent could offer. He is an outstanding player, and I face him a lot in training. So I would welcome the chance to face him in a big game like that.
When Messi broke Barca’s scoring record, you had provided more assists than anyone else in the side…
This is true, and I will tell Leo now that I won’t be helping him like that in Brazil! In Brazil we have outstanding forwards and it is a big part of my game to provide crosses and passes for them to get chances from.
So Leo will have to do without my help on that front, although there are plenty of good players in the Argentina side who will be setting him up with chances. I’m sure of that.
Brazil is a country where every kid plays football, what are your memories of kicking one about as a kid?
I grew up in Juazeiro, and every boy would play football there. I played non-stop with my neighbours. And my father was a huge football fan who would arrange games and eventually had his own team.
I played for the team as a winger, but then I got moved back to right back, which is where I play now. That education made me the player I am today.
How will you relax in between games?
I like to listen to music. My favourite is Samba. I don’t get the chance to listen to much Samba in the Barcelona dressing room, but in the Brazil one, we have it a lot. It’s very relaxing before games, and puts you in the right mood.
You’re famous for busting out some dance moves when your side wins. Have you got any special moves planned for the World Cup final, if you win that?
If Brazil can win the World Cup final, you would not be able to stop me dancing for a couple of months straight, I don’t think. The whole country would have the biggest carnival ever, you can’t imagine it!
