Legendary Brazilian Zico says he is worried about Lionel Messi's Argentina but makes his own nation favourites to lift the World Cup on home soil in July.
The star of Brazil's exciting 1982 World Cup side, which slipped up against eventual champions Italy, said today's side were his favourites.
Even so, he said there would be pressure for the Selecao to perform before a fanatical home support.
"That's normal; there's always pressure playing for your country. France, Argentina, England, Germany and Italy have won at home -- whereas Brazil haven't."
Brazil famously lost the deciding game in 1950 in the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro to Uruguay.
"If the other (host winners) had that pressure and won then why shouldn't Brazil" come July, Zico, now 60, argued.
Today's generation is, he says, less flamboyant than even the 2002 winning side of Ronaldinho and Ronaldo.
"They don't play the beautiful game -- they play efficiently. Well, Neymar plays beautiful stuff," he reflected, adding that coach Luiz Felipe Scolari knows how to obtain a winning blend.
He added that a crushing Confederations Cup win over Spain "has given motivation and confidence to fans and the team to go out and land the World Cup."
Standing in their way could be Argentina, who can boast Messi's mercurial talents, he warned.
"Argentina are Brazil's big rivals owing to Messi. He can pull the strings and take Argentina to the title."
