Brazil 0-3 Netherlands

Brazil’s defence was imploding again, and the hosts have fallen behind 3-0 to the Netherlands in the World Cup third-place playoff game in Brasilia.

Robin van Persie made it 1-0 perfectly placing a shot in the upper right corner out of goalkeeper Julio Cesar’s reach on a penalty in the third minute.

Thiago Silva had hauled down Arjen Robben at the edge of the box after the speedy Dutch forward zipped by the Brazilian defender, who was back in the line-up after missing Tuesday’s 7-1 semi-final loss to Germany because of suspension.

Fourteen minutes later Brazil defender David Luiz headed a Dutch cross right to Daley Blind, who settled the ball and buried it into the top right corner.

Brazil ring changes for third-place encounter 

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari made six changes to his starting line-up for Saturday's World Cup third-place play-off against the Netherlands at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia.

Captain Thiago Silva returns to the side after missing the humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat against Germany because of suspension.

Maxwell makes his first appearance at the World Cup at left-back in place of Marcelo, while Willian starts for his country for the first time.

Ramires and Paulinho are handed starts and Jo replaces the much-maligned Fred in attack.

Netherlands made just one change as midfielder Nigel de Jong drops out with Jordy Clasie taking his place.

Netherlands v Brazil line-ups

Starting line-ups for the World Cup third-place play-off between Brazil and the Netherlands at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia on Saturday:

Brazil -- Julio Cesar; Maicon, Thiago Silva (capt), David Luiz, Maxwell; Ramires, Luiz Gustavo, Paulinho; Oscar, Willian; Jo

Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari (BRA)

Netherlands -- Jasper Cillessen; Stefan de Vrij, Ron Vlaar, Bruno Martins Indi; Dirk Kuyt, Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordy Clasie, Wesley Sneijder, Daley Blind; Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie (capt)

Coach: Louis van Gaal (NED)

Referee: Djamel Haimoudi (ALG)

Scolari hails Robben as star of tournament

Netherlands winger Arjen Robben has been the standout performer of this year's World Cup in the eyes of Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Brazil and the Netherlands meet in Saturday's third-place play-off in Brasilia and Scolari indicated that he will be making a special effort to stop Robben from hurting his side as they try to end the tournament on a high.

"I think Robben has been the best player of the World Cup," said Scolari on Friday as he confirmed that Brazil have trained with the focus on stopping the Bayern Munich winger from causing havoc with his favoured move of cutting in from the right wing onto his left foot.

Brazil leader hails World Cup as a success

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff acknowledged the host country's football team needs reform after its humiliating elimination from the tournament.

Rousseff, 66, lamented the national team's historic 7-1 defeat to Germany in Tuesday's semi-final, ending Brazil's dream of winning a record-extending sixth title in front of home fans.

She said Brazil can "deal with a defeat and move forward."

Rousseff called for a "renewal" of the national sport, as did Germany after it failed to get out of the group stage in the 2000 European Championship.

"We are the seventh or sixth economy in the world, and we don't have the ability to have high-level athletes here?" she asked.