June 24 – Portuguese Squeeze England Out

IT was déjà vu all over again for England today in 2004 when they crashed out of the European Championships at the hands of host nation Portugal.

After an opening match loss to France, England had made unusually smooth process through Euro 2004, with Wayne Rooney bursting onto the international scene and excelling in convincing victories over Switzerland and Croatia to take the Three Lions to the quarter-finals.

Obviously, this got every man and his dog in England extremely over-excited, convinced that Sven had unearthed the game’s next big thing and the now-38-years of hurt was days away from ending.

Three minutes into the game at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon brochure-enthusiast Michael Owen struck after an error from Francisco Costinha and England had an early lead.

Instead of charging regardless, as Kevin Keegan had instructed his troops to do against the same opposition four years earlier, England looked content to protect their lead, but suffered their first piece of bad luck just before the half-hour, when Rooney fell victim to an England player’s favourite mid-2000s injury, the broken metatarsal.

With Darius Vassell on for the Everton youngster England held onto their lead until the 83rd minute when piece of bad luck number came their way.

Substitute striker Helder Postiga had just come off the back of a torrid season at White Hart Lane, scoring only one league goal after a £5.5m move, but it took him less than ten minutes to beat David James in the England goal to score Portugal’s equaliser.

Showing some textbook England grit, Sol Campbell found the net in the 90th minute, but just as had happened six years earlier against Argentina, he saw his winning goal snatched away from him by the referee, as John Terry fouled Ricardo in the Portuguese goal.

Extra-time was called upon, with Rui Costa and Frank Lampard swapping goals in the second extra period and England’s nemesis, the penalty shoot-out reared it’s ugly head.

David Beckham was in his ‘lead by example’ mindset, stepping up first, but his skyed effort was not the best marker for his troops. Rui Costa’s miss on Portugal’s third spot-kick evened up proceedings and got England fans believing again, but Vassell saw his effort saved by Ricardo. The Sporting stopper, who had taken off his gloves for the shoot-out was feeling rather pleased with himself and stepped up to blast the winner past his English counterpart and the Three Lions were again suffering penalty heart-ache.

Portugal meanwhile made it all the way to the final but they were unable to stop the almighty colossus that was… er… Greece in the final. Read about one of Europe’s greatest rivalries that was taking place today and join us tomorrow for more of the same.