Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho has blamed his side's misfiring attacking stars for their World Cup demise.
Carlos Queiroz's side are heading home from South Africa following last night's 1-0 defeat by Spain at Cape Town's Green Point Stadium.
Portugal managed to score in only one of their four matches in the finals - albeit an impressive 7-0 bludgeoning of minnows North Korea - and failed to take what chances did come their way against the European champions.
Much of the blame must be placed on Cristiano Ronaldo's shoulders, after the team captain and former world player of the year produced a series of insipid performances.
Chelsea centre-back Carvalho was not about to name names, with the likes of Simao Sabrosa, Danny and Hugo Almeida also disappointing, but admitted the forwards were not firing on all cylinders.
"I think you need more offensively," Carvalho told Press Association Sport.
"We defended well but you have to create more chances to score. We were just playing on the counter-attack and I think you need more to win this kind of game.
"Everyone wants to do better but the reality was sometimes we lost the ball quickly and it was difficult because Spain had more possession and were more dangerous.
"Of course, we had one or two chances and if you score then it could be different. But in the end we should do more offensively to try to win the game."
Carvalho, who enjoyed a near faultless personal campaign in which Portugal conceded just one goal, added: "It's the performance during the whole competition, just defending more. We defended well and didn't create too many chances, though we've got great players to do it.
"We defend as a team but we also have to create as a team.
"We had chances to score ourselves and maybe change the game but in the second half they scored. I think it was a little bit offside as well, but they had the luck to score and after that it was difficult."
Indeed, David Villa's 63rd-minute winner for Spain looked offside as he raced through to meet Xavi's clever backheel. On a different night, Portugal - for whom Ricardo Costa was sent off in the 89th minute - may have even won it themselves, with arguably the clearer chances falling in their lap.
Carvalho will be 36 by the time the next World Cup comes around in 2014 and he admits it is difficult to consider the prospect of such a long wait.
"At this moment it's difficult to think about another World Cup in four years. I feel good (physically) but at this moment it is difficult," he said.
"You have always got to dream of playing one final and I haven't given up yet."