The Confederations Cup, the dress rehearsal for the 2014 World Cup, kicks off with hosts Brazil looking to set the tone for the tournament when they take on Japan, a side easily capable of beating the best, at the Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha in Brasilia.
Brazil have far from convinced over the last couple of years, and don't really look like a team which should be feared, even in their own backyard.
Luiz Felipe Scolari has come in and stabilized the squad a little, but the flair and joy that the Selecao bring so often is still distinctly lacking.
"The team is coming together," Scolari said ahead of the game. "I once read in a magazine that nature does things slowly. We need to keep on working to be competitive and win games
Brazil's hopes will be pinned on poster boy Neymar, who recently completed his move to Barcelona, with the forward expected to set the tournament alight ahead of the World Cup in 2014.
"He is a 21-year-old player, he is an idol to the Brazilian fans and he is my idol too," Scolari said of Neymar.
"He is someone who can dictate the game, he can run, pass, he can get past opponents. But he will become even better when he becomes a team player, but this can take time.
"Right now I am very pleased with what he has done for the team, he has done everything asked of him, but he can and will get better as he gets older and more experienced."
Brazil, though, cannot take Japan lightly, with the Asian side filled with stars like Manchester United playmaker Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda quite dangerous at their best.
The Asian Cup champions were the first team to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, apart from hosts Brazil of course, and coach Alberto Zaccheroni has a well drilled unit in his hands, capable of going a long way in the tournament.
"The Confederations Cup will be difficult, but that's what we want," Zaccheroni said. "There are nothing but quality teams in the tournament and that's why we want to use the competition as a dress rehearsal for 2014."
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Expected lineups: Brazil: Cesar; Alves, Luiz, Thiago, Marcelo; Paulinho, Gustavo; Hulk, Oscar, Neymar; Fred.
Japan: Kawashima; Uchida, Yoshida, Konno, Nagatomo; Endo, Hasebe; Okazaki, Honda, Kagawa; Maeda.
Prediction: 2-1 to Brazil
