WHERE now for David Beckham? The question might seem premature as the dust has yet to settle on England's heartbreaking Euro 2004 exit, but it is one the national skipper must now address.
Beckham's third successive miss from the penalty spot in the sudden death shoot-out capped a miserable season for the Real Madrid star and leaves him as the biggest loser of Euro 2004. Just when he needed a good tournament to re-establish himself as a world-class player, Beckham has had a nightmare. And with new Real Madrid boss Jose Antonio Camacho understood to have serious misgivings about the former Manchester United midfielder, Beckham's future suddenly seems far from secure.
Last night's cruel exit at the hands of Portugal was the latest setback in a season of turmoil both on and off the field for the iconic 29-year-old.
With Chelsea now concentrating on signing Steven Gerrard, Beckham may find himself in limbo next season. Camacho is expected to complete a £15million deal in the next few days for Real Sociedad's star Xabi Alonso, whom he plans to build his new team around.
Worryingly for Beckham, there is no other obvious destination for him, should Madrid try to sell after just one, unsuccessful season. And if he cannot find a new club, he will become no more than an understudy for the likes of Figo and Zidane.
After this night of unrelenting drama which ultimately ended so cruelly, Beckham now finds himself at a crossroads in his career, with no obvious direction in sight.