Brazil are entering the business end of the tournament and with that comes added pressure. Our team, of course, who have some of the best players in the world, are used to playing under pressure and that is certainly true for Neymar.

You could see that from the contrasting emotions after the final whistle in the second and the third games. Against Costa Rica he broke down in tears at the end, despite Brazil winning 2-0. Against Serbia, however, after Tite’s team had secured first place in the group, he was laughing and waving to the crowd.

World Cup 2018 power rankings: Brazil and Croatia lead the way Read more

Against Costa Rica he had just scored a late goal and it was just an enormous relief of pressure. It was as if a huge weight had been taken off his shoulders. On the other hand, against Serbia, the win was more serene and there was not the same tension.

Either way, I think that it is very important for this Brazil team, as they prepare to take on Mexico, to listen only to themselves and not care about what others say. Just focus on the games.

That is how I always try to do it. However, sometimes it is impossible not to get emotional with a win or a defeat, especially if there is a lot at stake.

For example, the game against Australia in the 2016 Rio Olympics was an extreme occasion. It was a very tough game, very challenging for us. It went to penalties and when it was my turn … it was saved by their goalkeeper.

The shootout continued and in the end we won after our goalkeeper made a save – and after that I couldn’t hold the tears back. I started crying because of all the emotions that had been involved in that game. We dedicate our entire lives to play important matches and important tournaments.

Sometimes tears of sadness come out and sometimes tears of happiness. It could be tears of sadness because a team was utterly dominant yet still did not win or the tears of happiness could be after a last-minute goal. Football is an emotional game and that is why I like it. We care.

Talking about high-pressure situations leads me on to the captaincy. To be captain of your country is an amazing feeling, one of the best in the world – but it also comes with a lot of pressure. If you are captain you have responsibilities.

For me the day of the game is the easiest part, it is the time for you to enjoy the moment, be happy

If you take all the responsibility yourself then that can be a very heavy weight to carry around. The pressure of playing already exists and if you absorb 100% of it, obviously it will weigh a lot more. It is better, in my opinion, to see captaincy as something positive, which strengthens you, and allows you to share the responsibility with your teammates.

At the moment I am the captain for our national team but I also make sure that my teammates feel very included. I think it is important that they have a powerful voice as well and that they are part of leading the team, taking it forward.

I believe that when you put the weight of leadership on just one or two players that can have a negative effect on the team, with that one person being overloaded, and there is also an increased risk of factions within the squad.

I became national-team captain in 2012 and led our team for a couple of games in that year’s Olympics. Ever since I was little I have been put in positions of leadership. And the pressure of that is something that is normal to me.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tite with his Brazil squad. He has rotated the captaincy to good effect. Photograph: Sergei Bobylev/Tass

I always talk to my teammates and ask them to say something. There is no need for me to always be the last one to say something before a game. I leave things open, so my teammates can express themselves. That way we can show that everyone is important in the team.

I like the fact Tite has rotated the captaincy – and that is something I have mentioned to our national-team coach. I think it is positive that everyone feels they are important to the team and sharing the captaincy around is a great way of showing that.

Pressure means different things to different people and we will see that when Brazil take on Mexico. When I go on the pitch I try to be happy and to concentrate on the things that matter to me. I look for inspiration in my own story. I go back and see how hard I have worked to be where I am, how difficult it was and everything I overcame. So, for me, the day of the game is the easiest part, it is the time for you to enjoy the moment, be happy and always look to do your best.

The Fiver: sign up and get our daily football email.

If you are playing in a World Cup final or Olympic final with all that pressure, it is because you deserve to be there. Not all players have that privilege, so it is important that we enjoy the moment, the situation and try to be happy in all moments, always.

As for the next game of the 2018 World Cup, I am happy that Brazil got Mexico. It should be a great game. Mexico are a team that go out and play. They are a fast team with counterattacks as their biggest weapon with quick players such as Chicharito. However, they also have extremely hard-working players who fight until the bitter end and never give up.

In a way, I think that can suit Brazil. Mexico’s style of play could open up space for Tite’s team to exploit. It seems that every team try their hardest against Brazil because of our history and our five World Cup titles, but I still think that Brazil will win this one and go through to the quarter-finals.