Michael Owen blames Sven-Goran Eriksson's tactics for England's World Cup quarter-final defeat against Portugal.

The Newcastle United forward, who suffered a serious knee injury during the group stage of the tournament, cannot understand why Eriksson chose to play Wayne Rooney as a lone striker.

Owen believes the approach was a waste of Rooney's talents and that the youngster's sending off for trampling on Ricardo Carvalho was caused by his frustration about being left isolated up front.

"You would suggest he's probably only got angry because of what's happened in the first hour of that game. It's a frustrating role to play," he told ITV.

"Wayne Rooney is one of the best strikers in the world and you're cutting one of his legs off if you're playing just one up front."