"The pressure on this team is massive, it's more than on any other team here," Gilberto said. "Just because we have won five World Cups and a lot of important tournaments.

"Many people don't accept it if Brazil won the game but didn't play well. They expect us to do a lot of dribbles and fantastic skills and fantastic goals," Gilberto added.

To deal with the stress, Gilberto and many of his teammates receive visits from family members. The midfielder also enjoys playing a dice game introduced to him by Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry.

But music is Gilberto's biggest vice.

He used to play the mandolin but gave it up in favor of the guitar, and he said music is essential to his mental well-being.

"I've always been very quiet in my life and these instruments for me it's like a kind of therapy," Gilberto said. "When I get home after the training session I practice a little bit, just enjoy myself, just to feel I'm not too far from Brazil."

Gilberto is also involved in a London charity that helps drug addicts and the homeless and defends his decision to offer support to an organization based outside of Brazil.

"When you need to do something good it doesn't matter where. I live in London now, so I try to do my best," Gilberto said. "If I can inspire them to have a different life I will be very happy."

More happiness would come from a simple life after soccer.

"I would like to live in a small farm and ride a horse and have all of my family next to me," Gilberto said. "I spend a lot of time without them. This is the price you pay for this career but you have to take advantage of the situation because our time to play is very short and the time goes so quickly."