For all that Kevin Keegan's final verdict was that Portugal had 'edged it', the brutal reality of England's capitulation in Eindhoven came from the matter-of-fact analysis of one of the victors.

'Our way of playing was too much for England,' said full-back Dimas. 'We know how to move and make space. They did not know how to cope with our system and we could have scored more.'

In other words, it could have been much worse. If the England coach really believes it was that close, he is deluding himself. Ultimately, Portugal out-thought and out-played England, their fluidity, invention and skill so often making his outfit resemble something out of Jurassic Park.

Sadly, it was a familiar tale. They may yet qualify for the knockout stages if the evidence of Germany's unlovely draw with Romania is anything to go by.

However, here was evidence again that they do not look sophisticated or tactically astute enough to handle the very best and last night, Luis Figo and Rui Costa gave a vivid illustration of what being the best means.

It means being able to dictate the play, to to inspire and involve everyone around you. For 20 minutes, David Beckham did just that but could not sustain it like this devastating pair. Beckham, excellent as he is, never pulls the strings for England like Rui Costa did for Portugal.

Figo was UEFA's man of the match, which is debatable but then how do you choose between two diamonds? Nuno Gomes, scorer of the winner, explained how.

'It was the Figo goal, such a beautiful goal, which changed everything, gave us the heart to keep on playing for victory.'

It was the goal of a champion, someone instilling belief into a gifted team which has too often failed to show the mettle to go with their magic and it also summed up the almost criminal naivety of England's subsequent approach after their bright start.

A simple ball from Rui Costa allowed Figo to look up, find oceans of space through a midfield bereft of white shirts and maraud some 25-30 yards quite unattended as the back four retreated. What an invitation. Had anyone mentioned to them that this bloke is supposed to be the best in the world right now?

By the time he had proved why from 30 yards, it was too late. Great players can alter the course of a game.

Figo's audacious brilliance brought to mind that night at Stamford Bridge in the Champions' League when, three down to Chelsea and floundering, he almost single-handedly resurrected Barcelona in the second half to keep them in the tie.

From that point on, class told. Portugal strung together 15 passes, most of them going through Rui Costa, as they patiently sought out an opening for the second, obviously lulling Sol Campbell into reverie.

Then, a cobra's strike. A pinpoint cross whipped in for Joao Pinto to steal in and head home in front of the Spurs man. A real sucker punch.

Costa's delivery was just as deadly for Gomes's winner and Adams's culpability even more glaring as the young striker gave him the slip by a good three yards.

It seemed to sum up a night when England's spine seemed to be creaking at the joints. Seaman, Adams, Ince and Shearer had somehow never looked wearier as they floundered to keep up with the Portuguese adventure.

Ince too often looked bemused as Figo, Rui Costa and Pinto flitted around, inter-changing positions and combining with years of understanding.

Bereft of adequate back-up - McManaman, in particular, too often went missing on defensive duty - he seemed to be chasing shadows as the flexibility of Portugal's appoach only heightened the sense of England's rigidity.

We needed five in midfield; sometimes there appeared to be none. Rui Costa reckoned he could not believe the amount of space he was granted. Keegan never seemed to have an answer. Perhaps there is no answer.

Perhaps all the debates about 4-4-2 versus 3-5-2 are redundant when the superiority of technical ability and comfort on the ball of the best opposition continues to look as pronounced as it was in Eindhoven, when a hurl-and-hope long throw from one of the Neville boys ends up being England's most potent attacking threat.

It took the great Eusebio to spell it out. 'Our players didn't only show how to fight to win,' he said. 'We showed how to love the ball.'