From the Back Pages, June 18: Brazil 0 - Mexico 0: Guillermo Ochoa stars as Neymar and co fail to shine

Belgium, the World Cup ’s supposed ‘dark horses’, certainly finished with a flourish but only after almost falling at the very first fence. They trailed Algeria for fully 45 minutes, became frustrated with one another and generally looked liked they might self-destruct amid all the pre-tournament hype. Enter Marouane Fellaini. (The Telegraph)

Wayne Rooney has criticised sections of the media who questioned his form and speculated that the England forward had been relegated to training with the reserves at their base in Brazil. (The Guardian)

Luis Suarez has declared himself “100 per cent” fit to face England on Thursday, adding that he could exploit what he said were the defensive weaknesses of Roy Hodgson’s team. (The Independent)

Frank Lampard today issued a World Cup rallying cry as he told his team-mates: Now this is our Cup Final, writes Martin Lipton in Rio de Janeiro. (The Mirror)

Pepe shouldn’t have become embroiled in an altercation with Thomas Muller and ought to have been more responsible - particularly because he’s not even Portuguese. That’s Jose Mourinho’s synopsis after his country’s dismal 4-0 defeat against Germany on Monday as he laid the blame squarely at the central defender’s door. (Daily Mail)

Alastair Cook has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee for England’s slow over rate at Lord’s against Sri Lanka. However, given that his team missed the opportunity to win a Test match because of their lethargy - albeit combined with similar tardiness from Sri Lanka - the fine is a minor inconvenience. (The Times)