What went wrong for England?

The World Cup trophy

England have crashed out of the World Cup after losing 3-1 to Portugal on penalties.

During the match David Beckham went off injured and star striker Wayne Rooney was shown the red card for stamping on a Portuguese player.

Despite this England put on their best performance of the competition, so why do you think they lost?

Were they not trying hard enough or were they just unlucky?

Perhaps you think they've not got it in them to win, or maybe you think their time will come in 2010?

Unfortunately this topic is now closed but there are Comments pages on other subjects on the main Chat index.

Your comments

England played really well and if it wasn't for penalties we would have won.

Rowena, 14, Shepton Mallet

I think that our goalkeeper should have been more ready for the penalty kicks. Maybe they didn't practise their penalties enough times.

Aishan, 11, London

I believe England played well with only 10 men. Rooney should have acted more mature, but Cristiano Ronaldo shouldn't of wound him up either.

Paul, 14, Langford

I think that England losing is a good thing because they took Theo Walcott and never even played him. And you can't get everything you want - it's the experience of being in the World Cup and playing that counts.

Emma, 12, Scotland

England lost because they are not good at penalties and because Beckham was injured.

David, 8, Unknown

I think that there was nothing wrong with England, it was the Portuguese fouling all our star players out that was the problem!

Katie, 11, Switzerland

I think that Sven was a rubbish coach and that McClaren will be a lot better. Maybe the time wasn't right for England but maybe next time!

Beth, 11, Sheffield

England played well considering they had 10 men and kept they're football wicked. Ronaldo made it worse for Rooney.

Abi, 13, Wakefield

I was GUTTED! I cried when England lost the penalties. I think the ref was biased. And if Rooney and Beckham had stayed on we would have won the game as England played better than Portuguese.

Mathu, 14, England

The whole game just went out of control!

Eleanor, 11, Birmingham

I am absolutely gutted, I didn't think we deserved to lose, we were the better team! I thought the ref should have been more harsh on diving and given out yellow cards for them.

Robert, 12, Nottingham

I think England played as well as they could with only 10 men, but it wasn't the referee's fault for sending Rooney off, he deserved it. But I think Ronaldo is a cheat and doesn't have the right to be called a footballer.

Jim, 14, Stockport

I am really sad they lost they had worked so hard playing for over 100 minutes and I think it wasn't really fair play because I saw Ronaldo wink at another Portuguese player and it was really sad because David Beckham was really miserable and Wayne Rooney was wound up by Ronaldo. But they did do very well because Portugal couldn't score against 10 men and it was only because of penalties they won.

Sonia, 10, Birmingham

Who cares? Everyone goes on like its a big deal but England can't play as a team. They have great players but don't play as one so I'm not surprised.

Orla, 13, Ireland

I screamed angrily when I heard England had lost and was extremely upset. I don't think they played there best and Rooney acted very childish.

Rebecca Moss, 11, West Drayton

I think that even though England only had 10 men they did really well, but maybe if Rooney hadn't got sent off and Beckham and Owen were still playing then we would have had a greater chance!

Ellie, 12, Cheadle

I think we played really well and Portugal couldn't score against 10 men for an hour. Well done England!!

Kristian, 9, Orpington

I am sad that England lost but there is always the next world cup!

Emy, 8, Holland

I think England tired their best and it was a shame that they lost. I think it wasn't the ref being bias and he was right to sent Wayne Rooney off. It was also a shame that Beckham got injured. England tried their best but it just wasn't good enough!

Emma, 13, Linlithgow

I think England lost because they were so determined to win! They tried too hard and made mistakes!

Hannah, 11, Carlisle

England played their hearts out and they still lost. I think it was not their fault but the referee!

Mary, 12, London

At the end of the day maybe we were not as good as the others. We had to struggle to win the other matches and we can't be lucky forever!

Dan, 13, Braintree

The referee was really unfair! I reckon he sent our best players off deliberately.

Emily, 10, Somerset

I don't feel very sorry for England because after all the fuss about Wayne Rooney's foot, he got England a red card!

Cati, 12, Aberdeen

I think the referee was really unfair to England.

Rahim, 12, Mitcham

When both Rooney and Beckham went off in the space of a few minutes, it hit the rest of the team and they kind of lost it. We should have won, we played so much better!

Ivy, 12, Oxford

I don't believe England lost again in the quarter- final! I think if the ref didn't send Rooney off, England would've had a better chance of winning.

Sashi, 13

I think what happened to England was really unfair. The referee was obviously being bias. I also think the team were never good on penalties!

Elena, 13, Hull

If Beckham and Rooney hadn't left the pitch we would have thrashed Portugal! Or if Beckham, Rooney, Owen and Crouch had taken the penalties we would have also won!

Henry, 13, Isle of Wight

I think the England team were really unlucky. They played much better than Portugal and it's a shame that Rooney got a red card and Beckham had an injury. My whole family were disappointed but we are already making arrangements for 2010!

Louisa, 12, Petersfield

If Beckham, Rooney and Owen had each taken a penalty, we would have probably won!

Ben, 11, West Kirby

I can't believe England get knocked out, but I think it's because Portugal are a better team!

Rachel, 11, Penarth

I think England played better because we only had 10 men and Portugal still didn't score. If the referee didn't send Rooney off we could've won!

Jenny, 13, Liverpool

I think Sven should have put Theo Walcott on!

Yusef, 11, Aylesbury

I think that if Rooney wasn't sent off, we might have had a better chance but all the England team did really well. Let's just hope we'll do better next time!

Gareth, 12, Cardiff

I think it's such a shame that England went out! They are an amazing team and should have gone all the way. All I want to say is well done to the lads because they played their best and are an amazing team!

Becca, 13, Harpenden

We played well but Rooney shouldn't have been sent off. I also think Ronaldo was such a cheat because he kept on diving all the time!

Katie, 14, Oxford

Heartbreaking! I think it was a fair match and the referee didn't make any bad decisions. England played the best they could but were unlucky to have lost!

Rosie, 14, Durham

I don't understand why the referee sent Rooney off, he didn't do anything. I think Rooney would've scored a goal in the extra time. I think the referee should be sacked!

Catriona, 9, Hertford

I am so upset but they did try their best with 10 players!

Olivia, 11, Olney

I was so upset that England lost, they tried their best though but I think the referee was not fair!

Niki, 11, Eastham

I think England did really well as they played with only 10 men. I am slightly disappointed but they did try their best so WELL DONE ENGLAND!

Georgie, 12, Edenbridge

If Rooney and Beckham hadn't been off we probably would have had a better chance at penalties.

Carlotta, 10, London

England were going to get knocked out anyway so far in they have just been lucky.

Will, 10, Ormskirk

England lost because of the 4-5-1 formation. Rooney had to hold up the ball too much for Lampard and Gerrard who I thought were quite weak in the game.

David, 14, Darlington

I think England tried their best but it was Sven's fault for putting not fully fit people on the team. Also everyone thought that Portugal was going to win and didn't even give England a chance. Favouritism!

Jessica, 13, Essex

I blame Christiano Ronaldo.

Dom, 11, Harrogate

I think England deserved to win the World Cup. The referee was totally unfair.

Becca, 13, Norfolk

I think that England should have scored in the first half. Everyone says they are no good at penalties, and know I know they are right.

Melanie, 10, Yorkshire

I think England could have played better.

William, 10, Barton on Humber

Sven's tactics made the entire game-plan rubbish! This year was our golden generation and Sven ruined our hopes of winning the World Cup.

Sarah-may, 14, Manchester

I feel totally gutted. They were unlucky and the ref went against them all the time.

Danny, 10, Watford