PUPILS at Kingsfleet Primary school, Felixstowe, trudged back to their classrooms this morning after watching England's defeat in the hall.After two hours of deafening scrams and chants in support of their team the children took their chairs back quietly ready to start the day.

PUPILS at Kingsfleet Primary, Felixstowe, trudged back to their classrooms this morning after watching England's defeat on TV in the school hall.

After two hours of deafening screams and chants in

support of their team, the children took their chairs back quietly ready to start the day.

Like the England players and the country at large, they can now digest the lesson of yet another disappointing defeat to a team of Latin American stars.

William Porteous, a pupil at the school, said: "It was really unlucky and there should have been a penalty. I think he was for the other team, the referee."

William, who moved to England from France nearly three years ago, said that when France dropped out of the World Cup, he started to support his adopted team.

He said: "I am really sad that we lost."

Earlier, the pupils had been optimistically cheering loudly. Shouts of "Owen!" and "Beckham!" boomed through the hall and could be heard down Ferry Road.

More than 200 children filled the hall. Some had woken up as early as 5.15am to get to the school to watch the match.

Flags made from wood and paper were much in

evidence, along with painted faces, scarves and England shirts

Blane Stagg, ten, was kitted out with a Beckham haircut and St George's crosses painted on each cheek.

When Michael Owen scored for England the

children leapt on chairs, screaming and chanting.

But when Rivaldo's goal spoiled England's first half they started booing and gave the Brazilian team the thumbs down.

At half-time the children rushed out into the playground to show off their own football skills.

Katherine Thorogood, eight, summed up the first half, saying it was "fun, cool and wicked".

She woke at 6.30 this morning to see her heroes Owen and Beckham play.

Jake McCarthy, nine, predicted a final score of 2-1 – but to England. He said the England team had been unlucky in the first half, but he was still excited.

The game finished after much chanting of "the

referee needs glasses".

But the young fans will have to summon up some more cheers this evening as the school will be staging the final of their in-house five-a-side World Cup.