The anticipation of a nation - feeling that international weight on your shoulders as you put on your country's colours and prepare to do battle for your national pride.
This, among many other honours, is a moment that every footballer should relish. The chance to shine and make your country proud as you reach for the stars on your nation's behalf.
For Samir Nasri however, it's been a topsy-turvy relationship when it comes to representing his homeland.
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The Manchester City midfielder, 28, has now ruled out adding to his tally of 41 France caps by stating he'll never play for country again.
A decision that is likely to shock many given his reasonably young age, but it's perhaps no wonder that he feels so strongly about his national side given the former Arsenal midfielder's rocky relationship with Didier Deschamps.
A fine example of this would be Nasri's omission from France's 2014 World Cup squad.
After having a great season in every respect - statistically and to the naked eye - for City in 2013/2014, a season in which they won the Premier League, Deschamps opted to drop Nasri in place of some bewildering names, perhaps none more so than Newcastle's Moussa Sissoko.
No disrespect to the Newcastle man, of course, but Nasri was scintillating that year - it baffled many when they looked at the French World Cup team to not see his name on the sheet.
When asked about this personally in a television interview, according to the Daily Mail, Nasri stated:
"Even if my Dad is coach, I will not return. I've suffered with the selections - missing the World Cup destroys you a bit"
"After 2012, I wanted to stop but my Father told me I had to play the World Cup, I tried to be good."
"I had a great season with my club before 2014. I had very good stats."
It wasn't to be though, with Nasri forced to watch on as his France team-mates reached the quarter-finals, only to be knocked out by eventual winners Germany.
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