Assistant Coach Jeff Davis gave due credit to the Saudi side, whilst at the same time reflecting on what could have been. Jeff told TheFA.com: "The players and backroom staff are all devastated as we were so determined to get to the Final and retain the title we won in Japan four years ago.

"Saudi Arabia were the better side on the day and we wish them well, but when the dust has settled, we can look back on a missed penalty when the score was 3-1, and the perplexing dismissal of Grant Smith for a tackle where he didn't make the slightest contact with the player.

"Our only consolation was Tony Boot's fifth goal of the tournament in the 50th minute, but we will stay on now and aim to finish as high as we can in the tournament placings."

England will now play Northern Ireland in Cologne tomorrow morning to determine whether they will play in the third-fourth place play-off or the play-off for fifth or sixth, with France and Hungary the other beaten quarter finalists.

Elsewhere hosts Germany beat France 9-0 to progress to a semi final against Holland, the 2002 runners-up and reigning European champions, who themselves beat Hungary 4-0 in their quarter final whilst South Africa moved into the last four with a 3-2 victory over Northern Ireland in a game that went to extra-time.