Edin Dzeko fired the hosts into an early lead before Pompey hit back through Jermain Defoe and Arnold Mvuemba, although Christian Gentner levelled things up before the break.

James then gifted the Germans a third in the 74th minute when Zvjezdan Misimovic took the ball from his feet and rolled it into the net - although the England man partially atoned with a penalty save from the same player five minutes later.

Portsmouth's defeat and victory for Braga ensured Tony Adams' men cannot now qualify from Group E, while in contrast, Wolfsburg leapfrogged AC Milan to move into top spot.

Wolfsburg were ahead in the fourth minute when Gentner showed neat skill on the right and crossed low for Bosnian Dzeko to flick home from close range.

The visitors were level in the 11th minute when Armand Traore surged down the left and clipped in a cross that Diego Benaglio could only palm to Defoe, who scuffed his shot with just enough power to creep over the line.

Amazingly, Adams' men then took the lead three minutes later when Mvuemba placed a shot into the corner of the net from 20 yards, with the help of a deflection.

The match was level again in the 23rd minute, however, when Gentner's low centre from the left evaded everybody and nestled into the net.

But James gifted Wolfsburg the lead once again with a horrible mistake. The England stopper attempted to dribble around Misimovic near the penalty spot, but the forward simply robbed him of the ball and rolled it into an unguarded net in the 74th minute.

Things nearly got worse for Portsmouth when Sol Campbell brought down Dzeko for a penalty, but James partially atoned with a parry from Misimovic's spot-kick.