Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari paid tribute to England on Saturday night after once again ending their World Cup hopes.
Sven-Goran Eriksson's side fought valiantly with 10 men following Wayne Rooney's dismissal in the 62nd minute of a 0-0 quarter-final draw in Gelsenkirchen.
But Scolari's team eventually prevailed 3-1 after an agonising penalty shootout in which England missed three out of four spot-kicks.
"England have played a wonderful match with 10 men and we have to congratulate them," he said.
"The penalties are always a lottery.
"I want to value the attitude of the English players. It looked like 11 against 11.
"They did not give us many opportunities. We were forced to shoot from long-distance and that is not something the Portugal players can do very well. England did well to close the space."
The former Brazil boss also admitted the shootout could have gone either way. "I could not imagine winning or losing," he said.
"I was just waiting to see what happens. Ricardo has developed very well in terms of saving spot-kicks in the past years and he stopped three penalties today.
"If I had to select a player it would have been Ricardo because he saved three penalties.
"He was happy to be in the right place. You have to give him more merit for saving than the English players (for not scoring).
"But they can select any one of the opponents as long as we win."
Scolari also refused to comment on Rooney's sending-off.
"On the red card I don't have to give you an opinion," he stated.
"If he thinks it was a red card than it is his decision."
Scolari also believes the Portuguese are capable of going on to win the trophy.
"Portugal can be world champions because we are through to the semi-finals," he argued.
"There is just one game left to the final. We will be ready in the semi-finals. Now that the emotions have cleared we are in the last four and will take on whoever will be coming. We will be ready."
