Euro 2004 is know longer the present, it's history. For England at least.

Whoever invented penalties as a way of deciding a football match could have had no idea of the amount of pain it would cause one country.

We were not at our best - there's no hiding from that - but when we went ahead to early and then when Frank dragged us back into it, we believed we were going to make it.

As Michael struck his early goal and Big Phil stood up in the dug-out to calm his troops, you just wondered whether it might be Brazil all over again.

Sitting in the red, Ferrari-like dug-out seats in the Stadium of Light, it probably crossed Sven's mind too.

In the end, it was even more dramatic, and even more heart-breaking. And that opening goal already seems an age away.

Who could have predicted that Fabien Barthez and Helder Postiga would have been the players to tear our dreams away?

There's no doubt that Rooney's injury was pivotal. Without his colourful contribution, our attacking play seemed more black and white.

Why did he have to be taken away just when Owen was returning to his best form? Footballing fate I suppose. We still don't know what havoc the two can wreak when both on very top form. That will have to wait for another day.

Ashley Cole was outstanding - again. No full-back in the world would have been able to handle Ronaldo better than Ashley did tonight.

He didn't deserve to lose.

And Sol Campbell, how cruel for him to suffer the momentary ecstasy of an extra-time goal only for it to be ruled out for the second time in his career.

Cruel but true.