Beckham: Taunted by fans after the game (GMPrior/Allsport)

Keegan had chosen to give England extra forward bite with the inclusion of Steve McManaman in midfield and they duly stormed into a 2-0 lead within 17 minutes through Paul Scholes and the Real Madrid winger himself.

However, just as in those heart-stopping days with Newcastle, yet again a Keegan side was caught out at the back as Portugal responded with devastating effect to drive hole after hole in the beleaguered England back four.

As good as England were in the opening 20 minutes amid that gung-ho approach, they were equally frustrating in the rest of the game as Rui Costa and Luis Figo overran them with increasing ease and the defence collapsed without adequate support from midfield.

Figo pulled the first goal back on 22 minutes, Joao Pinto levelled just before the break and then Nuno Gomes completed the superb comeback with 31 minutes left.

It was the 1970 World Cup quarter-finals against West Germany all over again.

So many hopes, so many expectations - yet so many weaknesses and now such a task ahead of them.

While Germany's 1-1 draw against Romania in the other game in Game A means that this defeat is not the end of Keegan's hopes, his side must now attempt to do what no England side have done in a tournament since 1966 - defeat the Germans.

And although Germany are by no means the force they once were, Erich Ribbeck will have seen much to exploit in England's defence, while he will have watched with great interest the huge spaces allowed to Portugal's roaming midfielders.

For that, Keegan himself will inevitably receive much of the flak, given that the selection of McManaman had been at the heart of his characteristically attack-motivated masterplan.

And while the former Liverpool winger was hardly the main culprit on the pitch - after all, he did score and England still struggled after he went off injured shortly before Portugal's third goal - it was the balance of the side which was the problem.

Credit must still be given to Portugal, however, as the side which is often seen as the Brazil of European football in their flair but certainly not in their achievements sparkled vibrantly as they have so often failed to do in tournaments.

And they were hardly defensive in their mind-set. They simply beat England at their own game - and deservedly so. Keegan's gamble had failed.

It had all seemed so different, however, when Scholes - who had done so much to secure England's place at the finals with his two goals against Scotland in the play-offs - struck again after just two minutes and 43 seconds to put England ahead.

After Alan Shearer held the ball up well, Phil Neville overlapped and his deep cross evaded Michael Owen only for David Beckham to return it with interest.

Scholes had meanwhile ghosted unmarked into the penalty area and delivered a bullet header which went in off the underside of the crossbar.

It was the perfect start and while Portugal hardly crumbled, with Joao Pinto heading one chance into the ground and over the bar, while Seaman tipped a long-range by Rui Costa around the post, the game looked to be England's for the taking after just 17 minutes.

Again Beckham, who was answering Keegan's recent call to deliver more for his country, was the creator after Owen had flicked the ball into his path and the Manchester United winger's cross flew over Scholes straight into the path of the onrushing McManaman.

He composed himself momentarily before striking a half-volley which gave keeper Vitor Baia no chance and surely his selection had been vindicated.

However, the problem - and a considerable one at that - was that while England still threatened when they managed to break forward, that was happening increasingly rarely and they were leaving incredibly open spaces in midfield for Figo and Rui Costa to exploit.

And the pre-match criticisms of England's defence by Portugal's assistant coach suddenly started to look justified.

McManaman, who had evidently been given licence to push inside, was being tested defensively, while Portugal dominated possession with an increasing stranglehold.

After Nuno Gomes had one effort ruled out for offside and was then denied by Seaman, Owen was still appealing in vain for a foul as the opposition broke quickly in response.

That it was Figo who advanced unchallenged through the centre was intensely worrying and, as England backed off him, the Barcelona winger duly let fly from 25 yards to beat Seaman, who remained helplessly to the spot, with the aid of a deflection off Tony Adam's foot.

While Scholes shot over the bar and Shearer flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal, Rui Costa was by now running the game from central midfield.

And after a seemingly endless passing move in which the Portuguese toyed with England, they duly pounced when Rui Costa curled a menacing low cross in from the right flank.

Joao Pinto easily beat Sol Campbell to plant a superb diving header just inside the far post and while Owen had a volley deflected over, the half-time whistle was a welcome relief for an England side who were creaking at the seams.

Emile Heskey replaced Owen, who had earlier been kicked on the knee, at the interval, yet still Portugal threatened first, with Joao Pinto beating Seaman to a corner but volleying over the bar.

England steadied themselves, drew breath and the arrival of Dennis Wise for McManaman, who had injured himself in a tackle, was what those with a more defensive mindset had clamoured for in the first place.

Wise had no time to make any impression, however, before Rui Costa opened up the England defence with an inspired through-ball which picked out Nuno Gomes, who had all too easily escaped the marking of Adams, and he shot powerfully past Seaman.

Gomes came close again as Portugal grew even further in confidence, with another effort ruled out for offside, while Scholes had a shot blocked and then headed agonisingly wide from close range.

With Figo also threatening with a delightful lob that flew just wide, Adams was replaced by Martin Keown and although England never gave up, they were driving desperately down blind alleys and remained vulnerable to the counter-attack.

Portugal had overwhelmingly dominated the second-half, indeed the final 70 minutes, and England's explosive start had ended with them promptly falling flat on their faces at the first hurdle.

The chance to recover still remains but the opening gamble had failed.