De Bruyne an unsung World Cup hero: Martinez

President Donald Trump tweeted Sunday to congratulate the winning team, President Vladimir Putin, and Russia after the World Cup final, which he called "one of the best ever!"

"Congratulations to France, who played extraordinary soccer, on winning the 2018 World Cup. Additionally, congratulations to President Putin and Russia for putting on a truly great World Cup Tournament one of the best ever!," he wrote on his Twitter account on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, the national team of France defeated Croatia 4-2 in the 2018 FIFA World Cup final match in Moscow to snatch its second World Cup Trophy.

Belgium's fearsome forward line needed only 73 seconds to finally come alive at Euro 2024 on Saturday but almost 80 minutes later they were still trying to deliver the knockout blow on Romania.

Then the masterful Kevin De Bruyne took matters into his own hands with his 28th goal for his country to totally change the feel of the night.

A granite-jawed Romania side had absorbed the kind of first-half pummelling that would have seen the towel being lobbed into the ring had it been a boxing match.

Edward Iordanescu's men were rocking when recalled Youri Tielemans blasted Belgium in front in the second minute but somehow stayed on their feet, repelling raid after Belgium raid as De Bruyne conducted the attacking ensemble.

When Romelu Lukaku fired home from De Bruyne's stunning pass just past the hour, only for VAR to deny him for the third time in two games, Belgium's raucous fans must have feared the worst as Romania continued to look dangerous on the counter-attack.

They were spared an agonising climax though as De Bruyne turned poacher supreme -- racing on to an old-fashioned hoof forward from keeper Koen Casteels and burying a clinical shot past Florin Nita to seal a precious three points.

The 32-year-old turns football into a fine art, his weight of pass and decision-making nearly always spot-on whether for Manchester City or Belgium.

But on Saturday, with his team's anxiety growing and Romania looking capable of snatching a point, he also showed a willingness to do the hard graft in a relentless man-of-the-match display.

The sight of him reacting quickest to race on to a long punt to score encapsulated a superb all-round display.

"We have a new team with a lot of young boys. I'm already getting a little older and I want to show with the Devils in my last years how to behave as a player and as a leader," he said.

Belgium started the game bottom of Group E after their shock 1-0 defeat by Slovakia and the so-called golden generation were in serious changes of exiting the Euros at the group stage, as they did at the 2022 World Cup, had they misfired again.

They ended it joint-top, however, and the feeling is that someone could be in for a horrible hiding from the Red Devils soon - assuming they progress on Wednesday from a group where all three teams have three points.

De Bruyne's Manchester City team mate Jeremy Doku was a constant twisting an turning menace down the left while on the other side Dodi Lukebakio justified his starting place, although a second yellow card means he will not play against Ukraine.

Tielemans, one of the four changes manager Domenico Tedesco, made was also instrumental as Belgium rediscovering their verve and his finish from Lukaku's lay-off was emphatic.

Lukaku was desperately unlucky not to add to his 85 goals for Belgium and may well wonder what he has to do to open his account at this tournament.

Belgium still have work to do to make sure they even reach the last-16 but the shackles are off and with dynamic duo De Bruyne and Lukaku firing on all cylinders, they look in the mood to prove the doubters wrong and have a deep run.

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.

Pep Guardiola said Manchester City showed the heart of champions to fight back to beat Newcastle 3-2 on Saturday thanks to a Kevin De Bruyne masterclass on his return to Premier League action.

The Belgian came off the bench to score and set up Oscar Bobb's stoppage-time winner to announce his comeback from a five-month injury layoff in style.

Victory takes City up to second in the table, two points behind Liverpool, and ominously poised to strike when they return from a two-week winter break, by which point Erling Haaland may be fit to join De Bruyne in terrorising opposition defences.

"That was really good, sometimes it is better winning that way," said Guardiola.

"We played with a huge personality. They showed me they want to be there, to fight until the end that they want to retain the title."

A cruel late twist for Newcastle saw Eddie Howe's men succumb to a sixth defeat in their last seven Premier League games.

But a point would have been more than Newcastle deserved after being thoroughly outplayed but for two goals in two first-half minutes that threatened to frustrate the champions.

"Their quality told in the end. De Bruyne is obviously a world-class player," said Howe, who was publicly backed by the club's chief executive Darren Eales this week.

"There's not a lot wrong with our performances. You can see today we are a top team. The group is in a good place, I don't see any negativity. I see hurt because we aren't winning and that's what we're here to do."

A frantic encounter got off to a disrupted start as City goalkeeper Ederson was forced off injured in his attempt to stop Sean Longstaff putting the ball into the net.

The goal was ruled out as Alexander Isak was clearly offside in the build-up and City were furious the flag was not raised earlier to prevent any damage being done to the Brazilian.

Silva's moment of magic 

Guardiola's men dominated for the opening half-hour but lacked the poise of De Bruyne or presence of Haaland up front to turn their possession into a cutting edge.

When City did break the deadlock, it took a moment of brilliance from Bernardo Silva.

The Portuguese backheeled Kyle Walker's low cross into the far corner on 26 minutes.

Moments later only a brilliant save from Martin Dubravka turned another sweet strike from Silva onto the post.

However, the match was transformed in a stunning two-minute period just before half-time.

Bruno Guimaraes cut open the City backline with one pass that freed Isak, who cut inside Walker and curled brilliantly into the far corner.

Seconds later, the Swede's strike was surpassed as Anthony Gordon followed a similar route by turning inside onto his right foot and firing into the far corner.

City restored their control of the game at the start of the second period, but again lacked a punch in attack until De Bruyne made his return to Premier League action for the first time since the opening day of the season.

The 32-year-old, who made his comeback as a substitute in a 5-0 rout of Huddersfield in the FA Cup last weekend, quickly showed what the European champions have been missing.

De Bruyne latched onto Rodri's pass 16 minutes from time and drove forward before placing a low precise finish beyond Dubravka from outside the box.

Despite his lack of game time this season, De Bruyne has still produced more assists than any other player in Europe's top five leagues since the start of last season.

And another wonderful pass over the top for Bobb created the winner.

The young Norwegian still had plenty to do, but showed quick feet to round Dubravka and tap into an unguarded net for his first Premier League goal.

"When Kevin has the ball and we have runners, Kevin is unique in the world but the finish by Oscar, I am so, so happy for him," added Guardiola.

In contrast to City's jubilation, another defeat for Newcastle may have realistically ended their hopes of a top-four finish as they slip to 10th, still 11 points adrift of the Champions League places.

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a Croatian soccer shirt with the name "Putin" printed on the back on Sunday, hours before Croatia play France in the World Cup final in Moscow.

Croatia has been caught up in soccer fever after the Balkan nation of 4.2 million people swept aside more fancied opponents to reach its first ever World Cup final, which Russia is hosting this year.

Grabar-Kitarovic has, herself, entered into the spirit of the occasion, travelling to Russia to watch matches and dressing in the colours of the national flag. Croatia knocked Russia's team out of the competition in the quarter-finals.

At a Kremlin meeting, Putin congratulated the Croatian president on the Croatian team's performance.

"I'm sure we will see a beautiful game today," he said. Grabar-Kitarovic thanked Putin for what she said was the successful organisation of the competition.

Putin presented her with a bouquet of flowers, while she gave the Russian leader the Croatian national shirt.