Neville was as shocked as anyone else when he heard racist taunts coming from the stands in the Bernabeu. But he is adamant it didn't affect England's performance and says the Three Lions just want to concentrate on matters on the pitch.

He said: "We've had to cope with racism for years in certain countries. There's nothing we can do about it. We can only try to promote things in a certain way.

"Around 70,000 people watch most of our games and you can't control what they do. We can only play football. I accept this is a bigger issue but our main job is to play football.

"It's not going to be sorted out by the England football team, it's a problem worldwide.

"But you don't expect it in Spain. I thought they were actually an ally of ours. I can't understand it, where it comes from I don't know.

"I think it's up to the governing body to take whatever action they feel is necessary, not the England football team. I feel sorry for the Spanish players because they seemed a decent set of lads."

Like many of the England team, Neville was clearly upset by what was an almost surreal evening in Madrid. But he was just as disappointed by the team's performance as by anything off the field.

He said: "We couldn't get going, I couldn't understand it, I didn't know what to make of the game from start to finish to be honest. It was the strangest game I've ever played.

"I think we just have to forget it and get on to the next one."