Has England's defeat in Portugal punctured York's patriotic fervour? DAN PHILLIPS and STEVE CARROLL find out.

THE England flags and Euro 2004 wall charts may already have been ripped off our walls, but how downhearted are York's England fans after defeat?

Our penalty nightmare may have continued in Portugal's Estadio de Luz, but has yet another horror from 12 yards killed the city's patriotism?

Before Thursday's big kick-off, York had been a sea of red, white and the flag of St George. We took a trip out into the city in the aftermath of England's quarter-final defeat to see how York was coping with disappointment.

It was at JJB Sports, in Davygate, where the pain appeared most pronounced. On Thursday, you couldn't move without a Come On England banner threatening to decapitate you if you weren't careful on the escalator. Twenty-four hours later and all had been removed.

Allsports, in Coney Street, was in a similar frame of mind. Anyone who still wanted a piece of England football memorabilia could snap up shirts and tops at vastly reduced prices.

But many of York's bigger stores and pubs remained in a defiant pose. England flags flapped defiantly at the Cross Keys, in Goodramgate, while Marks & Spencer and Dixons both retained their prominent England displays.

On the streets, there was simmering anger at the result.

"The referee was blatantly for Portugal all the time," said 69-year-old David Turton, from Slingsby.

"It was a big let-down for the country. I've got a flag on my shed, but I am going away on Tuesday so I will take it down."

Everyone agreed - we were robbed. Michelle Hattee, 33, of Stamford Bridge, said: "I'm not a major fan, but I was at work and I literally rushed home and I just got in through the door to see Owen score.

"Everyone was talking about it. It was really good to see everyone with their flags out. I'll still watch the tournament but it is not the same as when you're shouting for your country."

"We'll have to see what the other matches are like," said 46-year-old Joan Smith, also from Stamford Bridge.

"Me, my husband, and my two boys were all on the edge of our seats. It was a nightmare, it was very wrong."

Nicki Letts, 20, a history student at the University of York, was at a campus event, but nobody turned up until the match was over.

"I was out last night at Big D but no one turned up until the match had finished."

"I was devastated to see them go out, though."

So, as the England boys flew home - their dreams of victory crushed once again - York stood defiant, the flags and crosses still proudly displayed.

Updated: 09:34 Saturday, June 26, 2004