A Portugal team supporter celebrates in central Lisbon after Portugal defeated England in their Euro 2004 quarter-final soccer match at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, June 24, 2004.

A Portugal fan celebrates at the Marques Pombal square in central Lisbon with her country's flag following victory over England June 24, 2004. Hundreds of thousands of Portuguese flooded the streets on Thursday in wild celebrations of the hosts' quarter-final defeat of England after a penalty shoot-out at Euro 2004.

England's goalkeeper David James reacts after failing to stop a penalty during the extra-time penalty shoot-out against Portugal in their Euro 2004 quarter-final soccer match at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, June 24, 2004.

Portugal's Ricardo celebrates win over England in their Euro 2004 quarter-final soccer match at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, June 24, 2004.

David Beckham (L) and Portugal's goalkeeper Ricardo (R) react following Beckham's extra-time penalty miss in their Euro 2004 quarter-final soccer match at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, June 24, 2004. Portugal won 6-5 on penalties.

England's David Beckham misses his penalty against Portugal's Ricardo in their Euro 2004 quarter-final soccer match at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, June 24, 2004.

　　Hosts Portugal have beaten England 6-5 on penalties to become the first team to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2004 after a pulsating game ended 2-2 after extra time.

　　Portugal keeper Ricardo saved Darius Vassell's kick, England's seventh, and Ricardo himself stepped up to put his team into the semi-finals and spark mass celebrations across the nation.

　　Portugal now meet Sweden or the Netherlands on June 30 at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon.

　　"I said to them 'One Portuguese is worth, with his enthusiasm, the 40,000 English that are here'. And to all the Portuguese, congratulations," said Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who was in charge of Brazil when they beat England in the World Cup quarter-finals in 2002.

　　"All wins are delicious, but this one especially, after everything that happened, it was spectacular," Scolari said.

　　"Culminating with that penalty that Ricardo both saved and made. That's the kind of thing that makes us thank God."

　　"It's very hard," said England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. "We were not lucky with some things out there today."

　　"The spirit out there was fantastic. But losing like that is very hard."

　　Rui Costa, on as a 79th-minute substitute, thought he had clinched victory for Portugal when he put his team 2-1 up in the 110th minute, cutting in to arrow a right-foot shot past England goalkeeper David James from 25 metres.

　　But England found the energy to drag themselves back when Frank Lampard slotted in from close range five minutes later.

　　Portugal, semi-finalists at Euro 2000, had trailed for 80 minutes to Michael Owen's third-minute opener for England.

　　But they were handed a lifeline after 83 minutes when Helder Postiga, on for Luis Figo, headed in Simao's cross to take the game into extra time.

　　"It's a big disappointment, to be fair to them they put their penalties away really well," Owen said.

　　Knocked out

　　England were knocked out of the 1996 European Championship on penalties in the semi-finals and lost to Germany again on penalties in the 1990 World Cup semi-finals.

　　They were also knocked out of the 1998 World Cup by Argentina on penalties in the second round.

　　England, wearing black armbands in memory of a fan who was killed chasing a pickpocket in Lisbon on Tuesday, could not have hoped for a better start as Owen scored his first goal of the tournament.

　　James hit a long upfield clearance and the ball flicked off midfielder Costinha's head straight into the path of Owen, who spun round to hook it past a helpless Ricardo.

　　England did not have to wait long for Portugal's response as the intricate passing of Deco, Figo and Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo forced them into a series of last-ditch clearances.

　　England's attacking aspirations took a knock after 27 minutes when Wayne Rooney, the tournaments joint top scorer with four goals, appeared to twist his ankle under pressure from defender Jorge Andrade.

　　The 18-year-old received lengthy treatment on the touchline before hobbling away to be replaced by Darius Vassell.

　　Portugal continued to set the rhythm with Luis Figo pulling the strings in midfield, but he was often guilty of wayward shooting as England weathered the storm.

　　It was not all one-way traffic, however, and a resurgent Owen drew a superb one-handed save from Ricardo as England threatened on the break.

　　Owen, who had been disappointing so far in the tournament, also lobbed another effort narrowly over the bar.

　　Portugal kept up the pressure after the re-start as England's labouring midfield struggled to cover the green spaces inside the Luz stadium.

　　Ronaldo was gradually running out of tricks in his battle with Ashley Cole and the hosts were looking increasingly desperate when Postiga struck.

　　The striker had only been on the pitch for eight minutes when he powered home his header.

　　There was still time for more drama in the dying seconds of normal time when England defender Sol Campbell's headed goal was ruled out by referee Urs Meier to rule it our for pushing.

　　"From the bench it looked alright but the referee said there was a push," said Eriksson.