King leaves England squad for child's birth

Defender Ledley King was missing from the England bench for tonight’s Euro 2004 quarter-final with Portugal in Lisbon after his girlfriend went into labour.

King received a phone call at 7.30am this morning informing him that his partner was on her way to hospital.

He was given permission to return to England and flew out of Lisbon at 10am.

He will return to Portugal for the semi-finals if England go through.