Alan Smith 43                Filipe Teixeira 7, Aziza Makukula pen 20,  Huga Viara 70
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England Under 21 crashed out of the Under 21 European Championships by losing 3-1 to Portugal on Wednesday 22 May, 2002 in Zurich, Switzerland. As Italy and Switzerland drew 0-0 in Basle, Switzerland at the same time they both went through to the semi finals and England and Portugal went home. The England team was:
 
 
 
The England Under 21 team was:
 
                                                        Paul Robinson (Leeds)
                                                       
                                                       
 
  Luke Young* (Charlton)       Zat Knight (Fulham)      Gareth Barry* (Aston Villa)       Paul Konchesky (Charlton)
                                     
 
 Jermaine Pennant  (Arsenal)  David Dunn* (Captain, Blackburn)  David Prutton (Notts Forest)  Jonathan Greening (Middlesboro)
 Scott Parker 76 (Charlton)                                                                                                                      Shola Ameobi 30 (Newcastle)
 
                                      Alan Smith (Leeds)                           Jermaine Defoe  (West Ham)       
                                                                                                   Bobby Zamora 66  (Brighton)  
                      
 

* Booked during game

The Portugal Under 21 starting team was Sergip Leite, Vasco Faisca, Tonel, Jorge Ribeiro, Hugo Viana, Filipe Teixeira, Bruno Alves, Pedro Mendes, Semedo, Neca, Makukula

England had a terrible start with a 4-4-2 formation against a 3-5-2 formation against Portugal. England's attacking wingers, Jermaine Pennant and Jonathan Greening failed to cover in defence early on and England were overrun.

After 4 minutes, Luke Young missed a headed clearance from a long ball and Hugo Viana had a good chance to score for Portugal bit missed. Two minutes later, Neca received a good ball after David Dunn had lost the ball in midfield but put his shot wide.

After 7 minutes of the game, Portugal deservedly went 1-0 up.  Semedo crossed from the left and Neca gave a short pass to Filipe Teixeira inside the penalty box - he put it hard, low and accurately to the Paul Robinson's left and into the net.

After 20 minutes of the game, Semedo got inside Paul Konchesky on the right wing but then Konchesky fouled him from behind and gave away a penalty. Makukula took the penalty, sent Robinson the wrong way and made it 2-0 to Portugal.

After half an hour, England were being completely outplayed and only Luke Young had achieved a decent shot on the Portuguese goal for England. The England manager, David Platt, took off the ineffective Jonathan Greening and brought on striker Shola Ameobi  with Alan Smith moving to left wing. This appeared a good move and England then matched Portugal up to half time with Smith playing well.

Alan Smith shoots to score for England just before half time

After good chances for Makukula for Portugal and Ameobi for England, Alan Smith scored to bring England back into the game just before half time. A pass from Ameobi from the left hand side of the penalty box went to Smith in the centre of the box - Smith made space for the shot and blasted the ball past the Portuguese goalkeeper, Leite.

Four minutes into the second half, Alan Smith just missed a good chance when clear on the left hand side of the penalty area. Portugal then came back into the game and had a couple of good chances.

After 68 minutes Jermaine Pennant crossed to captain David Dunn but he put his shot over the bar. A couple of minutes later, however, Portugal had scored again to make it 3-1. Huga Viana received the ball, got past David Prutton on the right inside the penalty box and scored by shooting across the England goalkeeper, Paul Robinson.

After 78 minutes, Ameobi almost scored but was just beaten to the ball by the defender inside the six yard box - four minutes later Konchesky gave a good ball to Prutton but he shot into the side netting.

England lost 3-1 to Portugal but both sides went out of the competition as Italy drew 0-0 with Switzerland in the other Group A game. Over the whole game, Portugal were by far the better side and England never really deserved the draw they needed to take them to the semi finals of the competition.

Who played well:  Alan Smith had an excellent game and showed he can play on the left wing if the England senior squad gets any more injuries.

Who did not play as well: Too many England players had a poor game. David Dunn did not give a captain's performance, Pennant and Greening had a bad start on the right and left wing as they did not give enough support to the right and left backs. Jermaine Defoe did not get the service he required as England were second best in midfield for most of the game.