Having won the FA Cup in a penalty shootout against West Ham just a month previously, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher went from club high to international low at the 2006 World Cup.
Italy won the 18th World Cup, defeating France on penalties in a now infamous final in Berlin.
Although Fabio Grosso’s winning spot-kick clinched glory for the Azzurri, it was Zinedine Zidane’s unforgettable head butt on Marco Materazzi in extra time that the tournament will be remembered for.
The French legend was sent off, in what was the final game of one of the all-time great careers. It remains undoubtedly one of the most memorable World Cup moments ever.
France's Zinedine Zidane is dismissed for violent conduct.
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England squad, containing Liverpool players Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Peter Crouch and Scott Carson, topped their group after earning seven points from their clashes with Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and Sweden.
Gerrard and Crouch were England’s heroes in the 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago, scoring a goal apiece in the dying minutes to save the nation’s blushes.
The Liverpool skipper also found the net in the 2-2 draw against Sweden with a fine header. After a 1-0 win over Ecuador in the round of 16, Portugal awaited in the quarters.
Jamie Carragher’s hard luck in England’s shootout
CARDIFF, WALES - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd, 2005: England's Jamie Carragher in action against Wales during the World Cup Qualifier at the Millennium Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The clash between the Three Lions and Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side was one of the most dramatic and controversial of the entire 2006 World Cup.
Wayne Rooney’s sending-off midway through the second half, for stamping on Chelsea‘s Ricardo Carvalho, was contentious — some felt it was deliberate, others felt it was an accident — and it meant England had to hang on against a Portugal side containing world-class players in Luis Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco.
Eriksson’s men managed to see out the remainder of the 90 minutes and extra time in gutsy fashion, so it would be the dreaded penalties that would decide who progressed to the semi-finals.
Simao Sabrosa scored his side’s first spot-kick, while Frank Lampard missed England’s opening effort. Hugo Viana hit the post, Owen Hargreaves converted and Petit also missed, meaning if Gerrard could score England would be 2-1 up after three penalties each.
England 0-0 Portugal (AET)
July 1, 2006 | Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen
Lineups & Substitutions
England (4-5-1)
1. Robinson
2. G. Neville
5. Terry
6. Ferdinand
3. A. Cole
7. Beckham (Off 52′)
16. Hargreaves
11. Lampard
8. Gerrard
10. J. Cole (Off 65′)
9. Rooney (Red 62′)
Subs:
19. Lennon (On 52′, Off 119′)
21. Crouch (On 65′)
15. Carragher (On 119′)
Portugal (4-2-3-1)
1. Ricardo
13. Miguel
5. Meira
16. Carvalho
14. Nuno Valente
8. Petit
18. Maniche
19. Tiago (Off 74′)
7. Figo (Off 86′)
17. Ronaldo
9. Pauleta (Off 63′)
Subs:
11. Simao (On 63′)
10. Hugo Viana (On 74′)
23. Helder Postiga (On 86′)
Result: Portugal won 3-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
In the FA Cup final a month earlier, in which Gerrard had produced a virtuoso, match-winning performance against West Ham, with his penalty in the resultant shootout absolutely emphatic.
This time, however, his shot was tame and Portugal ‘keeper Ricardo kept it out.
When Helder Postiga fired his effort past Paul Robinson it meant that Carragher, brought on by Eriksson in the closing minutes of extra time to take a penalty, had to score to keep England level.
He stroked his penalty past Ricardo with aplomb, only for the referee to cruelly disallow it because he hadn’t yet blown his whistle.
You just knew what was going to happen with the second attempt.
England players show their dejection after the final penalty was scored by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during the Quarter Final match at the FIFA World Cup Stadium in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Picture date: Saturday July 1, 2006. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA. "This image may only be used in (i) wire services, newspapers, magazines, newspaper or magazine supplements and (ii) any internet version of such newspapers, magazines or supplements, or other editorial internet sites provided that these are not intended for, or promoted as being available for, mobile access/viewing ("Permitted Publications") and use is subject to the following restrictions: (i) Images may be published for editorial news reporting purposes only. (ii) Images may not be used in association with the names, marks, symbols or logos of any commercial entity. (iii) No alteration (other than, in the case of electronic publication, cropping) or manipulation may be made of (and in the case of electronic publication no text or image may be superimposed over) any published image so as to obscure or remove a sponsor identification image or to add or overlay the commercial identification of any third party which is not officially associated with the FIFA World Cup (other than copyright and photographer credits). (iv) In the case of electronic publication, images must appear as still images (and not as moving images or rapid-sequence streaming or refreshed images eg slideshows). This image may not be used on internet website publications which are viewable by means of mobile tecnology (such as WAP-enabled mobile websites) or transmitted via mobile technology (such as mobile alert services, downloads to mobile devices or MMS messaging). EMPICS will not continue to supply images from the FIFA World Cup to users who do not comply with the restrictions set out above and such failure may result in legal action being brought against users."
Predictably, the Liverpool defender saw his effort tipped onto the bar by Ricardo and England were then one kick away from elimination.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the villain earlier in the game for his part in Rooney’s sending-off, showed no nerves as he fired Portugal into the semis.
It was a heartbreaking way for England to go out- penalty shootout defeats became the norm after Italia ’90 – and it was a low in the illustrious careers of two of Liverpool’s finest players.
Player Nation Tournament Exit
Steven Gerrard England Quarter-finals
Jamie Carragher England Quarter-finals
Peter Crouch England Quarter-finals
Scott Carson England Quarter-finals
Xabi Alonso Spain Round of 16
Luis Garcia Spain Round of 16
Pepe Reina Spain Round of 16
Harry Kewell Australia Round of 16