Lucky Portugal struggled into the 2006 World Cup top four after ousting England 3-1 on penalty shootout, while France stunned the world by eliminating Brazil on Saturday.

Cristiano Ronaldo sealed Portugal's semifinal berth by striking into the right corner in the penalty shootout, after the English lost David Beckham to a leg injury and Wayne Rooney to a red card. 

"I'm full of confidence and I shoot strong. I was tired in the second half but I haven't played for a week so it was OK," said the Manchester United star proudly.

An amazing night witnessed five shootout missed. Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher missed to end their hopes and Sven-Goran Eriksson's reign, while Petit and Hugo Viana put Portugal in danger after missing the target.

"We practised penalties so much, I really don't know what more we could do about it. I was sure these players could get to the final and we should have done it," said heart-broken Eriksson.

The Man-United forward wrestled for the ball with Ricardo Carvalho on the halfway line and stamped on the defender's crotch in the 62rd minute.

Argentina referee Horacio Elizondo showed the first red card of the match and sent Rooney off.

"We started the second half very well and controlled the game exactly what we wanted to do. Then there was the sending off. We held the game up very well and lost on penalties again and I'm really sorry about that," said Eriksson.

However, Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari did not think they got advantage over England after Rooney's sending off.

Scolari said: "We didn't take advantage, we shot too much from outside the area. England closed the way to goal very well and it was like playing against 11."

England dominated the first 20 minutes as Frank Lampard almost broke the tie in the 12th minute.

Rooney played a tight pass to Lampard in the area and the Chelsea man pulled back from the right to find the ball denied by Portugal goalkeeper Ricardo.

Portugal got the chance six minutes later when Luis Figo's free-kick turned England's defence into a mess.

Both sides got chances in the second half as Peter Crouch only just failed to get the ball to a teammate in the Portuguese area and Simon had a shot saved by Paul Robinson in the counter-attack. 

Eriksson was forced to change things six minutes into the second half with David Beckham struggling with an ankle problem.

Beckham almost won a penalty with his last contribution of the game, and probably his chances of winning a World Cup when his cross hit the hand of Nuno Valente but England's appeal came to nothing.

He was replaced by Aaron Lennon and was seen on the sidelines looking anguished as treatment was performed on his ankle.

England's best chance to score a goal was a set-piece and Lampard fired in a free-kick that Ricardo did well to keep out, with Lennon scuffing his attempt to put in the rebound.

"We gave a good performance but we're out and that's very painful. I'm sorry for the fans, who have been fantastic, we couldn 't give them a final," said Eriksson.

Portugal almost sealed a win in the second extra-time when Postiga headed home, but the goal was denied by referee Horacio Elizondo who saw the off-side clearly.

In Frankfurt, former World Cup champions France stunned the world after eliminating five-time title winners Brazil with a 1-0 victory in their quarter-final encounter.

Parreira took the responsibility, saying "I would like to thank the players. I didn't do my job as my job was to get to the final."

(Xinhua News Agency July 3, 2006)