Beckham blaming himself, says Eriksson

Sven-Goran Eriksson insisted he is staying on as England coach after his side’s Euro 2004 defeat on penalties by Portugal and he revealed David Beckham was blaming himself for England’s heart-wrenching exit.

The Real Madrid midfielder he missed his third consecutive penalty for his country. Beckham slipped on his run-up, just as he did in Turkey last October, and skied his shot over the bar.

While Rui Costa also missed, Darius Vassell’s effort was saved by keeper Ricardo, who then struck his own spot-kick past David James.

And so, having lost to Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Brazil side in the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals, Eriksson was defeated by "Big Phil"'s Portugal team at the same stage of the Euro 2004 finals.

The Swede is nevertheless determined to stay on in the post, especially having signed a two-year contract extension to 2008 only two months ago.

“Yes, I am going to stay. After all the fuss, yes I am staying,” he insisted, with the Chelsea post now filled by Jose Mourinho.

“It’s the World Cup in two years’ time and I want to play more than quarter-finals in the big tournaments, maybe even the final.”

The Swede must attempt to lift the spirits of his players before they return home later today, with Beckham no doubt one of those in most need of consoling.

The England captain has not been at his best during the entire tournament and that was compounded when his penalty rocketed over the bar in the Stadium of Light.

Eriksson revealed: “I’ve talked to the squad, of course, in the dressing-room after the game and he might be blaming himself but football is like that, especially when you go to penalty shoot-outs.

“It’s a skill but it is also a lottery and I think he slipped with his foot again, unfortunately.

“But life has to go on. It’s a pity and I feel sad for the players and the fans, who have behaved extremely well.

“I thought we had a good chance to reach the final, unfortunately we go back to England now.”

The England coach was nevertheless upset at the quality of the pitch, revealing that he had twice complained to the tournament organisers at how the penalty spots at the stadium were cutting up.

“Twice before both games we played at this stadium, we complained,” he said.