Not wanting to sound like a troll but you were hardly lighting the world cup up in the games before then and yet still winning or qualifying plus by now pretty much everyone should know what any portugese team national or club level would throw themselves down if shot when you're within two feet of them.
That said there are still some positives England could take from the world cup no1 being more Sven, two being how well some of the players handled the first big tourney Lennon & Crouch, and three the team will now be picked on merit not on who is best pals with the bost or the biggest name.