Portuguese joy but familiar misery for England

By George Burns Jul 2, 2006, 16:55 GMT

Gelsenkirchen - The England squad return home from the World Cup in Germany Sunday having failed to live up to expectations and still stinging from a penalty shootout out defeat in the quarter-final stage at the hands of Portugal.

Worse still, the nation is laying much of the blame on England's greatest footballing talent Wayne Rooney after the explosive striker let his frustration get the better of him in a high-charged match in Gelsenkirchen, the 20-year-old seeing red for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho on the hour mark.

Meanwhile, Portugal march into their first semi-final since 1966 where they take on Brazil conquerors France with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari proclaiming that his side can become world champions.

An enthralling encounter containing everything but goals went into a penalty shootout and just like in the 1998 World Cup against Argentina and and in the semi-finals of the 1990 tournament against eventual winners Germany, England came out second best.

Cristiano Ronaldo fired in the decisive goal in the penalty lottery, which saw efforts by England's Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher all saved by Portugal's Ricardo.

Simao and Helder Postiga netted Portugal's two others, with Man of the Match Owen Hargreaves scoring England's only goal in Gelsenkirchen.

'I felt very confident. It was a great decision,' said Manchester United winger Ronaldo, who was a major doubt for the game after having to be substituted with a thigh strain the victory over the Netherlands in the previous round.

Like his manager Scolari, the 21-year-old said he saw no reason why his team couldn't go one better than the Portugal side of 1966.

'Everything is possible. In football you never know,' he said.

Scolari, who led Brazil to the 2002 title, not only has the incredible record of never having lost a match at a World Cup finals, 12 in total now, he has now also shattered the dreams of England in their last three tournaments.

Sven Goran Eriksson's side crashed out to Scolari's Brazil at the quarter-final stage four years ago while England also went out to Portugal at the same stage in Euro 2004.

The Swede now steps down after five-and-a-half years having failed to deliver the holy grail of a major trophy to a demanding English footballing public.

'Four years ago I think we did okay reaching the quarter-finals, two years okay reaching the quarter-final but this time, no it's not good enough,' he said. 'The team we have and the squad we have we should at least play in the semi-final. It's more our fault than the fault of Portugal.'

Eriksson's parting request to the people of England was that they don't treat Rooney too harshly for his red card, something not afforded to David Beckham, who has given up the captain's armband, when he suffered the same fate in the defeat to Argentina eight years ago.

'He is the golden boy of English football. Don't kill him, I beg you, because you will need him,' said Eriksson. 'He is a fantastic player. If he did it with intention or not, leave him, you need him.'