Home soil pressure for Brazil
Between now and the final on July 13, the subject of how Brazil will handle the pressure, is going to be as common a theme as their inability to finish stadiums on time or provide the promised infrastructure legacy.
No-one doubts Brazil has the players to win the World Cup but with the opening match just 10 weeks away, the focus is shifting to mentally preparing the players to deal with the pressure of lifting the trophy on home soil.
Brazil go into the competition as hot favourites following their triumph in last year's Confederations Cup, when they demolished world champions Spain 3-0 in the final. The triumph was one of their 13 wins in their last 14 games.
However, a number of psychological hurdles lie ahead.
Brazil are still scarred by the nightmare of losing the final game of the 1950 World Cup - the only other time when they hosted the tournament - and no team has won the most famous football trophy the year after lifting the Confederations Cup.
Their notoriously fickle fans could still turn on the team if all does not go to plan.
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has repeatedly stressed the importance of the home supporters and encouraged fans to get behind their team, especially if and when the going gets tough.
"Be with us during the World Cup: participate, jump up and down, get into the spirit," he told an audience of legal professionals in Brasilia last month.
"We want you to help us, particularly when we are in trouble, because that is when you can make the difference."
- Reuters