EXCLUSIVE: Samba stars Luiz and Cesar (or should that be Sideshow Bob and Buzz?) talk to Sportsmail ahead of England v Brazil

England versus Brazil at Wembley is Wednesday night. On Sunday evening, in David Luiz’s stunning penthouse apartment (you can see Stamford Bridge from the balcony), the competition is already fierce. Luiz and his great friend, the QPR goalkeeper Julio Cesar, have taken to an arcade driving game.

‘It’s Sideshow Bob versus Buzz Lightyear,’ says Luiz, referring to their cartoon lookalikes. ‘Nothing much beats Julio at the moment, but watch me win this…’ Luiz then emerges victorious with a 2-0 gesture. ‘It is about time I beat him. Five points he has cost Chelsea this season. Five points!’

These two Brazilians seem very comfortable and relaxed in their adopted city. Both are charming and friendly, they have laid on a spread of Brazilian snacks and invited Sportsmail along. Alex Kay and Lee Clayton went to ask the questions and eat their food.

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All together now: (from left-right) Lee Clayton, David Luiz, Alex Kay and Julio Cesar

KAY: You seem very settled here, what’s your favourite part of London?

LUIZ: As well as playing for Chelsea? I love London. I love the variety; the entertainment, the restaurants and concerts. It’s different from what we have in South America. I went to watch Coldplay at the O2 Arena. James Morrison. John Mayer.

CLAYTON: When a friend comes to London, where do you take them?

CESAR: Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Big Ben. The London Eye is my favourite. I want to go to the museums too.

LUIZ: I’ve been to Madame Tussaud’s. Three times.

CLAYTON: Is your statue with the hair there?

LUIZ: No, I think they will make one of Julio first.

CESAR: No! I’m not a celebrity. I’m a goalkeeper.

Fun and games: Luiz (right) celebrates beating Cesar on the racing videogame

KAY: Can you walk around normally in London?

LUIZ: With a hat, yes. It hides my hair. But it’s still normal for people to say hello. That makes me happy when people say ‘hi’. Why not? I’m a normal guy.

CESAR: I take the bus, I take the Tube. London is better than Milan for that. You couldn’t go anywhere there. Here, just the Italian and Brazilian tourists recognise me. If that changes, it is because I’m doing a good job.

CLAYTON: How have you found the Premier League?

CESAR: For me it’s the best league in the world. The atmosphere, the pitches, the stadiums, the atmosphere is unbelievable. It has been difficult at QPR, but I thank Mark Hughes for giving me the chance and for believing in me. Coming back for Brazil may not have happened without the faith he showed in me. Now I hope we can get the results with Harry to stay in the league. We can do it.

LUIZ: Every league game is like the World Cup. The passion... intense, the desire for points.

Nice view: Luiz's penthouse flat overlooks London - you can even see Stamford Bridge from the balcony

CLAYTON: What’s the biggest difference for a goalkeeper?

CESAR: Crosses into the box. Football here is more physical. In Italy and Brazil, the game is more technical. But against Norwich on Saturday, I told the big No 9 (Grant Holt) ‘stop pushing me’ at a corner. He said ‘it’s not me, it’s your team-mate’.

CLAYTON: Have you had to change your game?

LUIZ: In Brazil and Portugal my style was different. So when I arrived here I’d try things I’d normally do but the level of football here is too high so you can’t get away with them. You can’t make mistakes. You will be punished.

CLAYTON: We are used to warrior defenders like Terry and Carragher. Rarely do we have defenders who pass the ball out like you, or take risks. I can think of Alan Hansen or Rio Ferdinand.

LUIZ: You like the defenders who go ‘crash, crash’... yes? I think the Premier League style is changing. Stoke play direct football but not others. Swansea play nice football from the back and the style is changing because you have a lot of different nationalities. I prefer to play the ball on the floor.

Eyes on the prize: Jamie Carragher is a top defender, but Luiz does it a little differently

CESAR: It is football after all! With the foot!

KAY: David, you were a No 10 when you were younger?

LUIZ: Yes, I love playing football so it doesn’t matter where I play. I just try my best to help the team. I had a whole season in Portugal at left back. I like to learn in different positions.

CESAR: You can do that because you are good. Not all players can play in different positions.

LUIZ: You can (to Julio). You should see him in the outfield. He is very good.

Action man: Luiz has played in the midfield several times at Chelsea under Rafa Benitez

CLAYTON: How does a Brazilian become a goalkeeper, anyway? Doesn’t everyone want to be a No 10?

CESAR: When I was younger, I was a good outfield player. I’m so happy I found out I was a good goalkeeper though. It’s hard because there’s only one position to get into in the team but I’ve been lucky with my life. I love my job.

When I was nine I started to play in goal in five-a-sides. When I was 12 I moved to regular football. I still play outfield in training, though. I’d like to try it in a game at some point. Like Jorge Campos. He played one half in goal and the next outside. Maybe it’s better to do that in South America, rather than the Premier League!

Incredible: Cesar has been in magnificent form for QPR this term

VIDEO: Watch Luiz face off against Cesar on his racing game



CLAYTON: For England, playing Brazil is a big game. Wembley is a sell-out. What is the game for Brazil?

LUIZ: For me, it’s always the next game. That’s the most important. The derby is big against Argentina though ... and it’s amazing to play England at Wembley.

CLAYTON: Julio, what does it mean to you to be back in the squad?

CESAR: It’s special ... when I found out, I called my family on Skype. I was so happy.

LUIZ: Show them your reaction when you found out ...

CESAR: He texted me: ‘Buzz is back’ because my nickname is Buzz Lightyear. Everyone says I look like the hero from Toy Story. I don’t mind that! I was so happy and I called him shouting ‘let’s go to dinner to celebrate’ but I didn’t realise he was on the bus on the way to Swansea for a Chelsea game. He couldn’t really speak, but I was very excited and wanted to share that moment.

One's less evil than the other: Simpson's villain Sideshow Bob (right) and Chelsea defender David Luiz (left)



To infinity and beyond: Julio Cesar and Buzz Lightyear bear more than a passing resemblance



LUIZ: It’s a great example. He’s been out of the squad for a long time but he’s just as excited at being back in it as he was when he got his first call-up. I am happy for him, happier than when he came into the Chelsea dressing room after QPR won 1-0 at Stamford Bridge...

CESAR: David was so sad. He said ‘Julio, go away’. There was no hug.

KAY: What are your earliest memories of Wembley?

CESAR: I’ve played there once before when I was 16 years old. It was for Brazil’s Under 17s with Ronaldinho. It was the old Wembley with the two towers. Wembley is talked about in Brazil because Pele never played there.

CLAYTON: How does it compare to the Maracana?

LUIZ: I’ll leave this one to you, Julio, because I’ve never played at the Maracana.

CESAR: The Maracana is amazing and they are rebuilding it for the Confederations Cup and World Cup so it will be all modern. But at Wembley, it will be special playing for my country against the country I live in. I had that in Italy too a few times. You want to win even more. You just don’t want to lose. You play against the whole country. Is it OK to say that?

LUIZ: Yes.

Special: The Brazilians are looking forward to taking England on at Wembley Stadium

Raring to go: Luiz wants to play against England and says he is fit, despite a recent injury

CLAYTON: Are you fit, David?

LUIZ: In my heart, yes. Hopefully I can play. We will have to see what the doctors say.

CLAYTON: Ronaldinho told the Daily Mail that Rooney and Cole would get in the Brazil team. Do you think any England players could?

LUIZ: I think Joe Hart. He’s good!

CESAR: Haha. Paul Scholes definitely. And Rooney. He’s one of the best strikers in the world. He’s clever and he plays for the team.

Top talents: Ashley Cole (left) Wayne Rooney (centre), Jack Wilshere (right) and Paul Scholes (below) were all mentioned when the Brazilians tried to decide which Englishmen could make it in to their national team

LUIZ: Rooney is good between the lines. Cole, Terry and Lampard might get on the bench! And Wilshere has had a bad time with injuries but he has a great future. He just has to be careful with his body because one game can kill you.

I really like Phil Jones. I know he is not in this squad, but I like watching him, I like the way he is developing. He can become a big player for England.

KAY: We hear a lot about Neymar. Who should we be scared of?

LUIZ: You should be scared of all the Brazilian players – be careful!

CESAR: Neymar is our diamond.

Dangerman: Neymar is one of the key men in the Brazil squad

LUIZ: Everyone is wondering whether he can play in Europe so this is a chance for him to show what he can do and that he can do it in big games and in a big atmosphere.

CLAYTON: What does it mean to play for Brazil?

CESAR: It’s the best feeling in the world. When you put on that shirt, it’s amazing.

LUIZ: But he doesn’t get to put on the yellow one! If you’re a boy or man in Brazil, you want to play football. And if you are a woman ... you try to play football, too.

All about the shirt: Luiz, in Brazilian yellow, takes on Colombia hitman Radamel Falcao

KAY: There is a little pressure then...

LUIZ: Little pressure? It’s a big pressure! You have 200 million people who want to play for the national team.

CLAYTON: Your predictions then please ...

LUIZ: I hope we can win. We just must not concede goals.

CESAR: I don’t like to predict but I just don’t want to concede. I want to play as well as I’m playing at QPR. Some people are saying 2-1 or 3-1 to Brazil, but that means I will concede one. Why do people think I’ll concede one?

LUIZ: He’s like an octopus at the moment. But his nickname is still Buzz...