ENGLAND lost a game and their heads, while Spain shed their reputation as a civilised nation, racist chanting scarring a dreadful night in the Bernabéu. The post-match debate only fleetingly touched upon the mesmerising skills of José Antonio Reyes and Joaquín. The argument raged as to which country had done more to drag down their reputation.

A thuggish and shambolic first-half performance from England, and Wayne Rooney in particular, meant that the Football Association was not in a great position to start lecturing its hosts. The Manchester United striker was hauled off three minutes before the interval, before he could be sent off, and the manner of his departure was just as ugly as his challenges. He ripped off the black armband that the England players were wearing in honour of Emlyn Hughes and appeared to swear in the direction of those on the substitutes’ bench as he headed to the sidelines.

“It is not the first time it happened in football,” Sven-Göran Eriksson, the England head coach, said. “He was not thinking of disrespecting anyone, it was frustration. I took him off because I suspected that even a light tackle after his yellow card might have seen him sent off. He is young, he is learning and he was sorry in the dressing-room.”

Rooney was booked for a senseless shove on Iker Casillas, the Spain goalkeeper. “It’s like he was on another planet,” Casillas said. “I said, ‘What are you doing? This is a friendly.’ I looked into his eyes and there was nothing there. His eyes were wild.” However, pride of place in the hall of shame went to sections of the Spain supporters and to Luis Aragonés, the coach, who refused to condemn the racist chanting that was aimed at Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Advised that his silence might be interpreted as condoning the bigotry, particularly in the light of his recent remark that Thierry Henry was “a black s***”, he would only say that “my conscience is clear”.

Aragonés and the Spanish media had seemed nonplussed by English interest in the race issue and the reaction of some home supporters was to make even louder monkey noses. The FA had already made a complaint after racist abuse at the under-21 match on Tuesday night and Uefa, the European governing body, will be asked today to take strong action. “Something should be done, but that is up to the federations, Uefa and Fifa, ” Eriksson said. “I am sorry to say that before this game and during it, the issue of racism has become big. It shouldn’t happen in 2004 in any country. I think we are better in England than in many countries.

“I think walking off (during the match) would be very strong. If others behave badly, I think we should use official ways to make a protest and try to concentrate on playing football. It can’t be easy for the players. It shouldn’t happen.” David Beckham, the England captain, who earns his living playing for Real Madrid, admitted that he “felt ashamed” by the conduct of hundreds of Spain supporters.

“I was surprised,” he said. “I have never heard it before playing and living out here. It is something the FA and people are trying to cut out. They are doing their best. I don’t think it affected our players. The players we have got are good enough and strong enough to handle it.”

The despicable behaviour should not be allowed to deflect from England’s dreadful performance. “We lost our heads in the first half,” Eriksson said, with some understatement. “We can and should play much better than we did, but I can’t say I am worried.”

He will be glad that England head off into winter hibernation for three months after they were taught a first-half lesson by Spain. “I think we had 70 per cent of possession, which is very hurtful for the England squad,” Aragonés said. “Maybe that is why England were physical. We were better than them in every respect.” On the pitch, certainly, but not in the stands.

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