England fans have been praised for their behaviour

By PA Sport Staff

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England skipper David Beckham saluted the supporters who gave Sven-Goran Eriksson's side an emotional send-off from Japan after their World Cup exit at the hands of Brazil.

Around two thousand fans greeted the team when they arrived back at their Awaji Island headquarters following Saturday's 2-1 quarter-final defeat.

It was a scene that had been repeated on many occasions during the tournament with England second only in popularity amongst to the host nation.

Beckham said: "The fans have been absolutely magnificent from the minute we arrived in Japan and we will never forget the support they have given us during this World Cup.

"Wherever we have travelled, they have been with us and we would also like to thank Japan as a nation for the way they have supported us.

"It has felt as if we have almost been the home team and it has been fantastic to walk out to every game and see the stadium filled with the red and white of England.

"Now they have turned out in many numbers to say farewell to us and once again I can only say thank you and they are big reason why many of us will be coming back here."

England had only a brief stop-off at what has been their hideaway for the past month before heading to Osaka to fly back home.

FIFA chief spokesman Keith Cooper had earlier praised the behaviour of the thousands of England fans who had been impeccably behaved in Japan.

It was a far cry from the ugly scenes on the streets of Holland and Belgium during Euro 2000 when riot police often clashed with supporters.

Cooper said: "The real football fans have been following England here and these are the fans who are not interested one iota in causing trouble.

"The unwanted scum haven't come to this tournament and it is fantastic that the garbage have been left behind. These are real fans who have been following England."