England 0 Italy 0 (2-4 on pens): Cole and Young miss as Three Lions crash out on penalties AGAIN

By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER

Eyes on the ball: England desperately defend a corner in the goalless first half

England's penalty shoot-out misery continued in Kiev on Sunday night as they crashed out of Euro 2012.
After Mario Balotelli's talk of Peter Pan, the semi-finals of a major tournament are becoming the equivalent of Never Never Land for the Three Lions.
Six times now they have lost in such fashion, the last four at this stage of the competition.

On Sunday night it was the turn of Ashley Young and Ashley Cole to join the unhappy list of those whose nerve failed them when it mattered.
Both men needed consoling as Italy began their celebrations as, outplayed for long periods of an absorbing game, all England's defensive effort proved in vain.

Advantage England: Montolivo hangs his head after missing his penalty

It means Italy march onto Thursday's semi-final with Germany in Warsaw and leaves Roy Hodgson to pick the bones from an otherwise impressive tournament in time for next autumn's World Cup qualifiers.
Before the drama, all those pre-match predictions of a tight, cagey affair had been blown to bits inside the opening five minutes.
Claudio Marchisio picked out Daniele de Rossi with a peach of a cut-back.
From 25 yards, De Rossi let fly with a spectacular first-time half-volley, which curved away from Joe Hart's despairing dive, only to crash back off the post.
Starved of possession in those early stages, England eventually countered through Glen Johnson.

Double whammy: Ashleys Young and Cole both missed for England


Hammer blow: Ex-West Ham midfielder Diamanti buries his penalty to send his team-mates wild

The Liverpool defender continued his run after laying a pass off to Ashley Young and was picked out inside the box by James Milner.

Line-up: The England and Italy teams pose for their photos before kick-off

Had the chance fallen to a striker, England surely would have scored.

Pals: Mario Balotelli and Joe hart greet each other before the match gets underway

As it was, Johnson took vital seconds manoeuvring the ball into a position from which he could shoot, and when he did, Gianluigi Buffon stood firm to make an excellent one-handed save.


Almost: England's goalkeeper Hart was beaten by this early effort from Daniele De Rossi...

They were the most notable efforts of a surprisingly open start, during which Wayne Rooney sent a diving header over and Andrea Pirlo released Balotelli, only for John Terry to rescue the situation with a vital tackle.

Chance: Glen Johnson had this opportunity to fire England ahead from close range

No-one could help when Riccardo Montolivo's disguised pass looped over the England defence and dropped invitingly for Balotelli, whose volley went straight to Hart.

Brave: Wayne Rooney gets his head in front of Ignazio Abate's boot for another chance

At the other end, Danny Welbeck's precise effort sailed over after he had run onto Rooney's return pass.

Miss: Buffon screams at his defence after seeing Rooney go close with his effort

It was spellbinding stuff, with Italy having the edge in craft and guile, whilst also looking vulnerable when England attacked at pace.

Famous face: Roman Abramovich was among the crowd watching the match in Kiev

All smiles: FA chairman David Bernstein sat next to UEFA president Michel Platini for the game

Balotelli's notoriously fragile temperament resulted in him lashing out at a post after spurning another opportunity, which Pirlo and Antonio Cassano combined to provide.

Battle: Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci wins the header against Danny Welbeck

He ended the half driving over from long-range, extending a contribution substantially more effective than Rooney, whose failure to pick out a team-mate with a cross under no pressure was symptomatic of a player struggling to find his form.
England were caught cold straight after the interval when Marchisio found De Rossi in the box, only for the midfielder to mis-kick a volley wide from barely four yards when he had the time to do much better.

Direction: Italy coach Cesare Prandelli gestures as Steven Gerrard holds on to the ball

It was the start of an onslaught that had England teetering on the brink as Pirlo took command in imperious fashion.
At 33, the midfielder assumes the Paul Scholes-role for his country, dropping deep and dictating the tempo, and for a while, England were powerless to stop him.


Pace: Ashley Young tries to outsprint Abate at the Olympic Stadium

Terry denied Balotelli at the far-post with a thunderous clearing header, then Hart repelled De Rossi's long-range effort and also Balotelli's follow-up.

Clear: Balotelli fires a volley at goal after finding space inside the penalty box

Montolivo got to the loose ball first but his shot sailed over.

Spurned: Balotelli had power but sent his effort straight into the arms of Hart

Hodgson had seen enough and after Balotelli's overhead kick had gone over, Andy Carroll and Theo Walcott were introduced.

Surely? Balotelli just failed to reach this set-up from Antonio Cassano as England cleared

With Italy making changes as well, the game lost its shape, so, as had been imagined, extra-time was required.

Relief: Hart knows that is a golden opportunity for Balotelli to break the deadlock


Anger management: Balotelli kicks the post after he failed to score

After their defiant rearguard action, it would have been galling in the extreme for England's defences to be breached by a fluke.

Nervous night: England boss Roy Hodgson watches his side from the sidelines

Fortunately, what was intended as a cross by former West Ham man Alessandro Diamanti clipped the far post after Hart reacted too late to the danger it was posing.

So close: Italy spurned big chances from Riccardo Montolivo and Daniele De Rossi

So close: Italy spurned big chances from Riccardo Montolivo and Daniele De Rossi

Ouch: Young and Abate hold their heads after a nasty clash in the air

Time for change: Hodgson threw on Andy Carroll and Theo Walcott in a bid to lift England

Antonio Nocerino thought he had won it six minutes from the end but his header was correctly ruled out for offside.

Pain: Gerrard is treated for cramp after pulling up on the turf

Ambitious: Rooney attempts an overhead kick in the dying stages of normal time

It merely delayed the inevitable.

Full support: England fans made a huge amount of noise as the game headed into extra-time

That England led after the first two rounds of penalties to give hope, only made defeat all the more crushing as Diamanti delivered the final blow.


Going home: England trudge off the pitch





source: dailymail