Dyer returns from the far east

By Matthew Jones
June 23 2002

Kieron Dyer arrived home with the England squad last night, following their 2-1 defeat to Brazil in the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday.

Kieron Dyer arrived home with the England squad last night, following their 2-1 defeat to Brazil in the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday.

Less than 40 hours after their World Cup hopes ended in the loss to Brazil, Sven Goran Eriksson and his party touched down at Heathrow Airport at 11.06pm (BST) last night following the 12-and-a-half-hour flight from Osaka, where they were greeted by around 150 fans and about 80 airport ground staff and journalists.

The players, officials and their families then boarded coaches where they then set off towards the Meridien Excelsior Hotel, at Hayes in Middlesex.

After a short debriefing, the players and Football Association staff all went their separate ways - bringing to an end their World Cup adventure.

England's homecoming was far more sombre than the last time they reached the World Cup quarter-finals, although England's efforts in reaching the semi-finals of Italia 90 at least avoided the same tinge of disappointment and feeling of a missed opportunity felt this time.

However, the FA's head of communications Paul Newman said that there was a good atmosphere within the squad and that the players were simply glad to be home.

"The mood was not one of disappointment. It was very relaxed and the players are pleased to be with their families and back home again," he said.

England's players were all given a good reception, with the loudest cheers reserved for Eriksson and goalkeeper David Seaman.