A red card and penalties sink England once again

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A red card and penalties sink England once again

Gelsenkirchen, July 2 (DPA) The dreaded penalty shootout was once again the rock on which England's World Cup dreams perished as Cristiano Ronaldo's spot kick booked Portugal's place in the semi-finals.

Portugal also eliminated England on penalties at the same stage of Euro 2004, and just as that night in Lisbon, Sven-Goran Eriksson's side finished the match without talisman Wayne Rooney.

But unlike two years ago when Rooney went off injured, it was the Manchester United striker's short fuse that saw England with their backs to wall from the hour mark on after he saw red for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho while tussling for the ball in midfield.

It was all supposed to be so different. The 20-year-old striker went into the match carrying the hopes of his nation with England players and fans alike convinced that the talented forward would prove the difference this time around.

After all, England had led Portugal 1-0 in their Euro 2004 quarter-final tussle and were in total control until Rooney had to make an early exit, this time due to injury. Instead, Portugal came back into the game and progressed via a penalty shoot-out after the match finished 2-2 at the end of extra time.

Instead it was his United team-mate Ronaldo who showed the big-game temperament, shattering the hopes of the home of football.

It is not the first time that the 20-year-old has let his temper get the better of him to the detriment of his team. He was sent off playing for Manchester United against Villarreal in the Champions League last season for clapping in referee Kim Milton Nielsen's face.

It is also not the first time that an England idol has allowed an act of petulance derail his side's World Cup ambitions.

Long before Rooney's arrival on the international scene, current captain David Beckham suffered a similar fate when receiving his marching orders in England's defeat to Argentina in the second round of the 1998 World Cup.

Beckham had just been fouled by Diego Simeone and the midfielder lashed out at his Argentinian rival with his foot and the referee that day, Nielson, had no option but to show him a red card.

Argentina went on to prevail on penalties while Beckham suffered a tirade of abuse from the English media and fans, who held their then most valued player responsible for the loss. It will be interesting if Rooney suffers the same fate in the months to come.

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A red card and penalties sink England once again