England suffered penalty agony yet again as Italy won a shoot-out after the Euro 2012 quarter-final finished goalless in Kiev.
Italy were vastly superior to England over the course of 120 minutes, but Roy Hodgson’s boys refused to give in and battled to the bitter end despite clearly being out on their feet.
But, as on five of the previous six occasions the Three Lions have found themselves in the sudden-death environment they were left heartbroken.
England captain Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney were successful from the spot, but Ashley Young struck the bar and Ashley Cole’s effort was saved by Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Mario Balotelli scored Italy’s first spot-kick but Riccardo Montolivo’s miss gave England hope that was cruelly snatched away as Andrea Pirlo audaciously chipped in his spot-kick and Antonio Nocerino slotted home before former West Ham midfielder Alessandro Diamanti scored the decisive penalty.
In truth it was a victory which Italy deserved as they were by far the better side and a class above England. They will now play Germany in Warsaw in Thursday’s semi-final.
However England can surely take a lot out of their efforts to reach the quarter-finals – which in truth is possibly the best they could have hoped for pre-tournament.
They showed plenty of heart and pride under Hodgson, and the fans now seem to be fully behind them.
The new gaffer seems to have won over everyone, and he now has chance to take stock, sit back and start to really pull together a side which can make an impact in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
