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2002 World Cup -- Got into the starting eleven overnight
When Emerson got injured, everyone got tense because we were playing the next day, our debut against Turkey.
And Emerson was the team's captain, if you lose the captain the night before your first match, it can get a bit confusing...
I never thought I'd start playing because when I looked at my teammates, I thought I was surely the last option.
In the evening (the manager) Luiz Felipe Scolari came to my room with his assistant Murtosa.
I got butterflies in my stomach: What have I done wrong?
I invited them in and they started telling me that Emerson had been cut and that I would start the next day.
In their own peculiar way.
I said: 'ok'. What else could I say? The way they gave me the news was nice, because it made me calm.
The 2002 title
There was a little of everything in that group. Well balanced. All the players had a lot of talent.
It needed a leader, to steer and control the emotional side of things, and everyone's ego.
After a while, when you're a little more aware, you start thinking back of how you actually got there...
A lot of sacrifice. A lot of dedication, from everyone, intense work.
People in the backstage, working to set up a video, to give us a lecture,
make sure when we can start on time, and every athlete's dedication.
We wanted to win, there's no other way to describe it.
The 'loose atmosphere' in 2006
There was a lot of attention being paid to Brazil, a little too much.
We didn't have time to breathe, nor train properly, with all that partying, fans, too many members of the press.
Not that the press should be banned, but they were a metre away from us at training,
filming, commenting on what they were filming.
We weren't free to talk amongst ourselves, to joke around, as we used to.
The group was hindered by this.
Having fans at the training sessions every day, meant that some players felt intimidated,
as they were afraid of making a mistake at training, like missing a goal.
One makes a mistake, then the other, then the third and suddenly,
the supporters that were there to cheer us on would start booing, so everyone was worried.
We needed to have more privacy at our training sessions.
Because of the loose environment around Brazil, we felt that things weren't as tight among the players.
From the moment the competition really got going, it was different, we weren't as concentrated as we were in 2002.
The pressure was different. In 2002, nobody believed Brazil could go all the way, we had to prove them wrong.
We went from 0 to 100.
In 2006, let's say we were at 100, at the top.
We were the hot favourites. And then the group seemed to relax and didn't manage to sort itself out as it should.
Preparation for the 2010 World Cup
For 2010, I was part of the group that had to put the pieces back together for Brazil after 2006.
After all, the team that everyone expected to win, didn't win.
I wasn't getting many games at Arsenal, but was still featuring for Brazil.
I had to give it my all, because there was a guy who trusted me and my work.
And all the time here in Brazil, someone would say: "Gilberto doesn't want to play for Brazil anymore".
"He doesn't play for Arsenal, why is he getting called up for Brazil?" And I had to answer a lot of questions.
It was like going to the frontline, as in a war.
But I never disrespected anyone's work, even feeling disrespected and undervalued at times.
In 2010, an even bigger sorrow
It was worse for me in 2010 than in 2006.
It was more difficult for me to take in the defeat to the Netherlands than to France.
With all the difficult work done since the previous World Cup, the group got stronger,
friendship bonds were established, there was a lot of respect in there.
We missed the opportunity, we were not embarrassed to cry, a painful cry.
We knew that it was all in our hands and suddenly, it slipped through our fingers,
but we understand that that's how football is.
In defence of Dunga
Everyone criticised Dunga (manager in 2010) because he wouldn't open the training session to the press,
but what a lot of people don't know is that the players that had decided that.
As he wasn't very popular and he was the manager and for being Dunga, he ended up kind of being the scapegoat.
But he fought for us, so we'd get things we wanted.
Things that we experienced in 2006, that we didn't want to go through again.
We never said the press couldn't do their job.
We just wanted more privacy in relation to what happened in 2006. But a lot of stuff came from us.
Expectations for the 2014 World Cup
The base of the team is there, but there might be a surprise or two, but not many.
As a spectator, all we can do is cheer.
In any case, we're having a World Cup in Brazil after many years, so it'll be a great opportunity to have a great World Cup.
In my opinion, we're not favourites. We have to understand this.
We have a young group, which is maturing with some bumps, which is common.
After all, they didn't take part in the Qualifiers, so they haven't been playing competitive matches,
so all we can do is hope Brazil has a great World Cup.
Playing at home
It can work for and against you.
I remember in qualifiers in Brazil, we would suffer a lot, because Brazilian fans are very demanding and they might turn on you.
Despite being young, this team managed to deal with this well at the 2013 Confederations Cup.
What we're going to need is for fans to do what they did in the final against Spain.
Spain lost the match when the national anthem was played, and the Maracanã swallowed them up.
When you put that yellow jersey on you know how much it weighs when the anthem is played, it's different.
It's a different feeling. You transform yourself, become a giant when you hear the anthem.
And that's what we're going to need.
From the moment that Brazilian supporters understand how important they are for World Cup success, they'll embrace Brazil...
We have to behave as a nation with the same goal. Brazil's success in the World Cup belongs to us all.
Production and interview: Carol Delmazo // Photographs and editing: Danilo Borges