David Luiz: The pressure to win the World Cup is a good thing

The defender says the public expectation for Brazil this summer is high but it should be given how far the team have progressed under Scolari

David Luiz says he welcomes the pressure that his Brazil side will face at this year's World Cup, insisting it's to be expected following their transformation under coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Felipao's 2002 World Cup-winning squad recovered from an underwhelming qualification campaign to claim their fifth world title thanks an intense team spirit that led the Brazilian media to dub them "The Scolari Family".

And David Luiz says he's done it agian.

"We are a family," says Brazil's second captain in an exclusive interview with Gillette Brasil Global Tour. "I wish we had more time together.”

But how does the coach foster such a strong group?

“Scolari is negative when necessary and very positive when he needs to be", reveals Luiz. "He’s direct and transparent… He’s a fantastic coach and a fantastic person. He’s like a father to everyone

“He always says he wants us to work hard, to be tactically prepared and mentally ready, but that he wants everyone to be happy. I think that’s part of Brazilian culture and he never forgets that.”

Since succeeding Mano Menezes in November 2012, Felipao has revolutionised Brazil, transforming them from the side that won just one of four matches as they crashed out of Copa America 2011 at the quarter-final stage, to outright favourites for this year's World Cup. And Luiz, 26, welcomes the pressure.

“I think it’s a good thing,” he says. “Because it can show us exactly how important it will be for our country when we win the World Cup.”

And will they win the World Cup? “For sure!”