Caution proves England's undoing
...
But when the dust settles and the hard luck stories are all told, England must accept they were knocked out of Euro 2004 by a better, and more positive, side.
England suffered a devastating blow when Everton's Wayne Rooney limped off before the half-hour, and if they had added to Michael Owen's early goal, surely the host nation's party would have ended early.
But after the break Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari outwitted Eriksson for a second time, following on from Brazil's World Cup quarter-final win in 2002, with bold substitutions and an emphasis on attack that ultimately broke England.
Scolari's approach was met by caution with Eriksson who, seeing England were being pushed back further towards their own goal, sacrificed Paul Scholes for Phil Neville after only 55 minutes.
It signalled an England retreat that was eventually punished by, of all people, Spurs flop Helder Postiga.
Portugal were fluid, inventive and pacy, while England were trapped and reduced to firing long balls towards Owen and Darius Vassell.
England spent long spells of the second half without the ball, pressurised until it was inevitable they would be hit with a knockout blow.
Eriksson was cautious whereas Scolari was cavalier, and maybe this was a case of fortune favouring the brave.
I was quite happy to see Czech Republic get through too. 
x 100!
I think Beckham's penalty miss was partly due to the weird penalty spot, you could see a huge chunk of grass fly up as he kicked the ball. 
) are OUT
