By Chris O'Brien
July 8 2006

Wayne Rooney was sent-off in controversial fashion as England crashed out of the World Cup finals with a penalty shoot-out defeat against Portugal. Meanwhile, France, Italy and Germany have all booked their places in the last four.

Football is a funny game. However, the manner of England's quarter-final defeat to Portugal will be no laughing matter for the thousands of football supporters who have flown English shores to follow their beloved country abroad once more.

In the most bitterly ironic of fashions, England were again beaten on penalty kicks and again beaten by Portugal under the blazing sunshine in Gelsenkirchen. Wayne Rooney was dismissed, David Beckham was injured and the English, yet again, failed to perform against a weakened Portuguese side.

The Irony:

Wayne Rooney - The Manchester United forward was a major doubt prior to the tournament and much of the media felt that England hopes hinged on his return to fitness. The 20-year-old returned to the fold against Trinidad & Tobago on 58 minutes, with injury to Michael Owen in the following game against Sweden piling the pressure on the former Everton man to perform. However, Rooney failed to score and was sent-off on the hour against Portugal for a foolish stamp on Ricardo Carvalho, with the press set to blame the fiery striker for England's early exit.

Luiz Felipe Scolari - The man who turned down the England job, knocks the English out - again! In 2002 with Brazil, and now, for successive tournaments, Scolari has enjoyed penalty success with Portugal against England. 'Big Phil' has outwitted Sven-Göran Eriksson for the third time and has now ended the Swede's controversial tenure in charge of the national team.

Cristiano Ronaldo - United's pacey winger was labelled as a major doubt for the quarter-final tie, and seemed certain to miss out on the game after missing training on Friday. However, it was the youngster's right-boot which ultimately dumped England out of the World Cup, whilst the ex-Sporting Lisbon star now looks set for a public battle with team-mate Rooney. Ronaldo protested to referee Horacio Marcelo Elizondo following Rooney's stamp and was them caught on camera 'winking' as his "friend" headed for an early bath. Ronaldo went onto net the winning penalty as Portugal booked a semi-final with the French.

Penalties - England have now lost five penalty shoot-outs out of six at a major tournament - with 'world-class' midfielders Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard both squandering their opportunities from twelve yards. Jamie Carragher then went onto miss as England crashed out on the lottery of spot-kicks once again. Want more irony? Owen Hargreaves, perhaps England's most unpopular player, was the only man in white to fire passed 'keeper Ronaldo - in the country he plays his club football!

For England, it's all over. A campaign that will be remembered for poor performances and a bizarre squad selection saw England crash out at the last eight stage. 40 years of hurt - maybe next time, eh?

Full Time - England 0-0 Portugal
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
Attendance - 52,000

Meanwhile, the other quarter-final ties have seen France, Italy and Germany progress to the last four of the World Cup.

Germany secured a semi-final berth on home soil with a penalty shoot-out win over Argentina. Roberto Ayala's header gave the South Americans the lead after the interval, only for Miroslav Klose to secure his grip on the 'top scorer' slot with an 80th minute strike. Jens Lehman was then the hero as Germany won 4-2 on penalties, with Gabriel Heinze then involved in sour scenes on the pitch as players and officials clashed in an incident certain to undergo further investigation from FIFA.

The most one-sided affair of the quarter-finals saw Italy secure a 3-0 win over the Ukraine. Gianluca Zambrotta opened the scoring after only six minutes before Luca Toni, linked with a move to Old Trafford, bagged a brace after the break as the Azzuri cruised through to the final four. Some 50,000 watched on in Hamburg, as Gennaro Gattuso ran the show in midfield.

France star Thierry Henry volleyed home from close range to send-out the holders in superb fashion. Inspired by man-of-the-match Zinedine Zidane, the French left behind their below-par displays of the group stages. United's Mikael Silvestre watched the game from the bench.