LET'S ALL HAVE A GOOD CRY

Sven Eriksson stunned England players when he burst into tears in the dressing room on Saturday night.

Swedish ice-man Eriksson rarely shows emotion even in the most fraught circumstances but that changed at the AufSchalke Arena.

The England boss broke down and wept in Gelsenkirchen when he tried to thank the players for all their efforts in his five years in charge.

The devastated players, still reeling from the penalty shoot-out loss to Portugal, tried to console him. And Eriksson eventually managed to finish his speech marking the end of his controversial reign as England boss.

"Sven had really gone," a team insider said. "He was so emotional about what had happened. He really believed that this team was going to win the World Cup and he could not understand what had happened.

"He felt a close bond with this group of players and when the realisation hit him that the end had come, it all got a bit too much."

Eriksson defended Rooney yesterday:

"I am absolutely 200 per cent sure that Rooney will come back from this. But you need him much more than me for the next years, so pay attention please.

"He is the golden boy of English football. Don't kill him, I beg you. Wayne Rooney is a fantastic football player and, if he did it with intention or not, leave it. You need him for the qualification game for the Euros and you need him to win Euro 2008.

"He is fantastic football player. He has his temperament but I have no hard feelings against him and you shouldn't have.

"Yes, he has a temper and you have to live with that. But, oh Jesus, don't kill him. Take care of him.

"Make it easier for Wayne to come back than you did with Beckham. He has strength and character. He is very strong.

"I spoke to Wayne after the game. His opinion was that he had no intention of doing it. After that I went in to see the referee in his room, and asked him if it was a red card. He was more than 100 per cent sure.

"Wayne has not apologised, he is not that kind of person. I don't know if he should. I have always said that you can't take away the temperament from Wayne Rooney. If you did, he wouldn't be the kind of player he is.

"But maybe Ronaldo tried to contribute. Football is mind-games as well. You can't lose those mind games. At this level, opponents will do everything to win the game. You have to accept it."

Other players leapt to Rooney's defence.

Gary Neville:

"I'm sure there are people who will try and get on Wayne Rooney's back because that is their agenda. But I can assure you that there is no-one in that dressing room who is thinking about Wayne in that way.

"There are a few players who've got their head down in there. It always hurts getting knocked out but it's never hurt as much as this."

Beckham:

"Wayne is undoubtedly a strong enough character to bounce back. Wayne Rooney is our future and that is what people should think and remember.

"People, whoever they are, get sent off in football. Will Wayne get vilified like me? Who knows? Let's hope not because I remember what it was like for me."

Crouch:

"Wayne was devastated. We've gone into the dressing room and his head was down to the floor. The manager took him off on his own for a word and consoled him. A couple of the lads rallied around him.

"What Wayne has got to remember is he has a massive future and I am sure he can play in many more World Cups.

"He is leading the line for England up front and you've got to remember his age as well, only 20. He has done fantastically well and there is a lot more to come from Wayne.

"I hope he does not get the same sort of rough ride as David Beckham did all those years ago. Everyone knows how young he is and, in my opinion, he was unlucky to get sent off."

Ferdinand:

"When the red card was shown, I was amazed. I didn't know what had gone on.

"Can he bounce back? He has broad shoulders and is a very talented player. In terms of what he is going to be in for when he gets back home, I guess you guys determine that. But if anyone gets sent off they are going to be disappointed - no matter whether it is in the Premier League or the World Cup finals."