Neymar unfazed by critics after sweet and sour display downs Mexico

Brazil Football Confederation officials were furious with Brazil star Neymar as he refused to meet with fans when they landed back after World Cup exit. Brazil lost their World Cup dream in a memorable quarter-final tie on Friday.

When the squad landed back in Rio de Janeiro's international airport on Sunday there was still a crowd of hundreds there to greet their heroes.  According to Spanish sports daily AS, Neymar opted to leave Tom Jobin Airport via the backdoor to avoid meeting supporters.

This incident caused outrage inside the corridors of power at the CBF, with the report claiming that officials are disappointed with the 26-year-old over his behaviour.

Even the media did not bother to cut Neymar any slack after the disappointing exit with Brazilian website UOL claiming that Neymar ‘destroyed his own image in Russia’. Criticism of the forward’s behaviour have come from many corners and while he always had people behind him due to his extravagant skill and youth, the World Cup exit has turned many against the Brazil star.

Members of Brazil’s national team were applauded by fans greeting their arrival at Rio. Supporters chanted and cheered the players on as they got off the airplane and appeared in the airport lounge.

Casemiro and Philippe Coutinho stopped to greet some of the supporters and also took pictures with them.

Belgium finished third in the World Cup, their best-ever performance, when they beat England 2-0 with an early Thomas Meunier goal and a breakaway finished by Eden Hazard in Saturday's playoff between the losing semi-finalists.

Meunier finished off a devastating move when he turned in Nacer Chadli's low cross at the far post in the fourth minute after Romelu Lukaku's pass sliced open the English defence.

Belgium, who beat England 1-0 in a group match in the tournament, were more dangerous throughout a lively first half. But England improved after the break and nearly equalised when Eric Dier got clear and chipped over Thibaut Courtois, only for Toby Alderweireld to make a sliding clearance off the line.

Belgium continued to threaten on the break and finished off the game when Kevin de Bruyne set Hazard clear and he swept his shot past Jordan Pickford.

Starting line-ups for the World Cup third place playoff between Belgium and England in Saint Petersburg on Saturday (1400 GMT kick-off):

Belgium (3-4-3)

Thibaut Courtois; Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen; Thomas Meunier, Axel Witsel, Youri Tielemans, Nacer Chadli; Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard (capt)

Coach: Roberto Martinez (ESP)

England (3-5-2)

Jordan Pickford; Phil Jones, John Stones, Harry Maguire; Kieran Trippier, Eric Dier, Fabian Delph, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Danny Rose; Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane (capt)

Coach: Gareth Southgate (ENG)

Referee: Alireza Faghani (IRI)

France's soccer coach will have a subway train station named after him to celebrate his World Cup win and poet Victor Hugo will have to share his memorial slot on Paris's transport map with the team's goalkeeper and captain.

As "Les Bleus" headed home with the World Cup trophy on Monday, the French capital's RATP transport authority said it was renaming six metro subway stations in their honour for the day.

One station, Notre-Dame des Champs, will now be called Notre Didier Deschamps (Our Didier Deschamps), in an hommage to the coach.

Didier Deschamps is one of just three men in the history of the World Cup to take the trophy as team coach after winning it as a player - he helped the team to its first victory in the tournament in 1998.

Victor Hugo station is being renamed Victor Hugo Lloris after captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Bercy station will become "Bercy les Bleus", close to "Merci Les Bleus".

"Les Bleus" are returning on Monday from World Cup host country Russia to celebrate their victory with a parade on the Champs Elysees.

At one end of that avenue another subway stop called "Charles de Gaulle - Etoile" is being renamed "On a 2 Étoiles", replacing the wartime leader with the boast "We have two stars", one for each World Cup win.

With demand for the French team jersey surging, police urged crowds to move away from the entrance of the Nike shop on the Champs Elysees early on Monday.

England, which surprised many by getting as far as the semis, has changed Southgate station on the London Underground to Gareth Southgate Station in honour of the national coach.

Brazil superstar Neymar has levelled with Romario for third position on Brazil’s all-time leading goal-scorer list as he scored his 55th for the country against Austria in an international friendly. Ronaldo and Pele are the two remaining targets for him as the 26-year-old needs just seven more goals to eclipse Ronaldo’s tally while he needs 22 more to conquer Pele’s and claim Brazil’s top scorer title. 

Neymar achieved the feat on his first start since suffering a broken metatarsal in February, finding the net after 63 minutes of Brazil's final pre-World Cup friendly against Austria in Vienna on Sunday.

After coming on in the second half, he scored in the 63rd minute to help secure the 3-0 vicory.

"For me it is a great honour, great happiness to reach Romario and to be among the top scorers of the Brazilian team," the PSG star told reporters after the match.

"I wanted to pay homage to him in some way because he is an idol. Like I said last week, I do not want to be better than anyone, just myself.

"So it was a way to pay tribute, because he is an idol, not just to me, but all Brazilians."

Neymar's ultimate target will be to catch fellow Santos icon Pele, who remains well ahead at the top of the list on 77 goals.