England and Portugal are on course to meet in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup. So, HITC Football has looked back at their notorious quarter-final encounter at Germany 2006.
The Three Lions and Selecao have only met once since their action-packed tie at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen. England beat Portugal 1-0 in a friendly in 2016 just short of the 10-year anniversary of Wayne Rooney’s stamp, Cristiano Ronaldo’s wink and penalty misery.
That was penalty misery for England as Portugal dumped Sven-Goran Eriksson’s squad out of the World Cup in a shootout. Neither side could find the breakthrough during regular or extra time at the home of FC Schalke 04. But the Selecao rose to the occasion on penalties.
England and Portugal are on course to meet at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
England and Portugal may now clash on the World Cup stage for the fourth time yet during Qatar 2022. The Three Lions face France in the quarter-finals on Saturday, December 10 at 19:00 GMT. By then, Gareth Southgate’s squad will know if the Selecao or Morocco awaits.
Portugal take on the Atlas Lions at 15:00 GMT on December 10 in their quarter-final clash. Fernando Santos has guided the Selecao into the final eight in Qatar with wins over Ghana, Uruguay and Switzerland. England, meanwhile, have edged Iran, Wales and Senegal so far.
Should England now beat France and Portugal edge Morocco, a semi-final on December 14 awaits. The Selecao have beaten the Three Lions in their last two World Cup games in 2006 and 1986. England beat Portugal 2-1 in the semi-final in 1966 en route to winning the title.
How did England and Portugal reach the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals?
England reached the quarter-finals at the 2006 World Cup in Germany after topping Group B. They clawed their way to a 1-0 win over Paraguay, 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago and drew 2-2 with Sweden. A squeaky 1-0 win over Ecuador followed in the Round of 16.
Portugal, likewise, reached the quarter-finals at Germany 2006 by topping their group. But the Selecao led Group D with a perfect record after wins over 1-0 Angola, 2-0 Iran and 2-1 Mexico. Under Luiz Felipe Scolari, they would then edge the Netherlands 1-0 in the last 16.
France would ultimately await Portugal in the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup after they beat Spain 3-1. It was then at the Allianz Arena in Munich that Les Bleus would put an end to the Selecao’s adventure. A 33rd-minute penalty by Zinedine Zidane settled a 1-0 affair.
Beckham and Rooney left England weakened against Portugal in 2006
The 2006 World Cup in Germany was Eriksson’s farewell to the England job as the Football Association had already hired Steve McClaren that May to replace him from August 1. But the Swede again would not take the Three Lions to the semi-finals like at the 2002 edition.
Portugal forced Rooney to endure a frustrating afternoon in Gelsenkirchen with chances to score at a premium. The forward was just 20 years old at the time and his inexperience put the Three Lions on the back foot when Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo gave a red card.
Rooney tangled with Armando Petit and Ricardo Carvalho right under Elizondo’s nose. He then appeared to aim a stamp at the latter’s groin, which incensed the Portugal squad led by Ronaldo. They pestered the ref while he paused for a second, demanding Rooney walk.
England managed to rally and hold Portugal out despite their one-man advantage for the rest of regular and extra time. The Three Lions also persisted without their captain. David Beckham tore his right Achilles tendon and suffered a lesion in ligaments in his left knee.
The Selecao were not perfect put caused the Three Lions enough issues
Portugal were not perfect but caused England enough issues during regular and extra time in 2006. Tiago Mendes came close to scoring on a many occasions. But he slipped while clear as Gary Neville and Frank Lampard failed to deal with a deep free-kick from Luis Figo.
Paul Robinson also had to react well to keep a Tiago header out as the goalkeeper watched his England teammates spurn chances at the other end. Beckham came close to winning a penalty before his injury. While Lampard wasted a volley from a corner by Steven Gerrard.
Rooney, too, could not time his finish whilst still on the pitch in scorching 30C conditions in North Rhine-Westphalia. And his red card meant England had to switch their focus to keep Portugal at bay. At times, it became last-ditch efforts from those in front of Robinson’s net.
Ronaldo and Portugal would break English hearts at Germany 2006
So, to penalties the 2006 World Cup quarter-final between a depleted England and a lively Portugal side went. But the only item on the menu was heartbreak for the Three Lions and delirium for the Selecao. Only Owen Hargreaves would convert from the spot for Eriksson.
Simao set Portugal on course for a win after beating Robinson with the first penalty of the shootout. Lampard then stepped up for England but failed to follow suit as Ricardo denied the Chelsea icon. Yet Hugo Viana immediately let him off after he failed to find the target.
Petit also missing the target gave England the chance to move in front when Liverpool icon Gerrard stepped up. Yet Ricardo was again to the Selecao’s rescue and would then deny Jamie Carragher after Helder Postiga scored. Leaving it to a 21-year-old Ronaldo to win it.
And win it he did to add further fuel to the flames after enraging England fans with his role in Rooney’s red card. Ronaldo led the Portuguese protests demanding Elizondo ordered his then-Manchester United teammate to walk. But that was not the end of it for the forward.
TV cameras spotted Ronaldo winking whilst Rooney walked off down the tunnel in the 61st minute. Yet it would not cause issues for the pair once back at Old Trafford. The Red Devils won the Premier League title in 2006/07 led by Ronaldo’s 17 goals and Rooney’s 14 strikes.
Rooney avoided a post-2006 fallout with Ronaldo in the tunnel at full-time
Rooney revealed in The Times in 2020 that he avoided falling out with Ronaldo after their 2006 World Cup dramas by speaking to the Portugal icon in the tunnel after England’s exit.
“When he ran over to ask Elizondo to send me off I pushed him away,” Rooney wrote. “In that moment, I couldn’t believe what he was doing. But sitting in that dressing room gave me time to calm down and think.
“I put myself in Ronaldo’s shoes. Would I do the same? Probably. Would I be in the ref’s face to make sure he got sent off? If he deserved the red, if it would help us win — yes, no question. I’d do it tomorrow. I thought: ‘Actually, I tried to get him booked in the first half for diving’. And the wink thing, I didn’t see anything in that at all. It was nothing.
“So, I calmed down. I went over to him afterwards in the tunnel. I felt it was important to speak to him while it was still fresh and to do it face to face. He gave me a look as if to say sorry but by then I had my United head on. I said I’ve no issues with you.”
But the fallout was not over for England after exiting Germany 2006
But the fallout was not over for England after crashing out of the 2006 World Cup against Portugal on penalties. Beckham would resign as their captain following the defeat but the midfielder noted, via The Guardian, that it had already been running through his mind.
Beckham said: “I came to [this decision] some time ago, but I hoped to leave on the back of a successful World Cup. Sadly, it was not to be… It has been an honour and privilege to captain my country. I have lived the dream. For that, I will always be grateful.”
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