England suffered another penalty-shootout failure as they exited Euro 2012 to Italy after a goalless quarter-final in Kiev. Roy Hodgson’s side were very much second-best as only lady-luck stopped them from losing in normal and extra time.
It was a frustrating end to the tournament for Hodgson’s men who for all their hard-work in keeping the Italians at bay sadly were never able to get in a position to punish Cesare Prandelli’s side, as they were locked deep within their half the whole game.
Italy started well and after keeping the ball for the opening three minutes almost grabbed the lead in sensational style when Claudio Marchisio picked out Roma’s Daniele De Rossi 30 yards out who struck a crisp volley onto the post with Joe Hart well beaten.
England woke up and Glen Johnson combined well with James Milner down the right. The Liverpool man played the ball into Ashley Young in the area who played the ball back to the Manchester City man who crossed low into the area.
The ball fell to Johnson inside the box but the Liverpool man couldn’t get the ball out from under his feet and was only able to hit an effort straight into the path of Gianluigi Buffon who comfortably saved the right-back’s shot.
Johnson was looking England’s brightest player and he sent in a dangerous cross into the area which Wayne Rooney under pressure from a defender could only glance over. It was a tough chance but one that the striker perhaps could done better with.
Andrea Pirlo then showed the world why after leaving AC Milan last year that he is far from finished. The little maestro sent over a beautiful long ball which picked out Mario Balotelli through on goal. Somehow John Terry got back to block the City striker’s shot.
After Balotelli tested Hart, Rooney then combined well with his strike partner and club team-mate Danny Welbeck to send the gangly forward through on goal who could only shoot over the bar. It was to be England’s last chance for some time!
Balotelli was in the thick of the action moments later but only brilliant defending from his City team-mate Joeleon Lescott kept the enigmatic striker from tapping in Antonio Cassano’s knock-down from a delicious Pirlo cross.
Italy’s bad luck continued after the break when somehow De Rossi flashed wide a chance from three yards after a corner wasn’t properlty cleared before Hart saved from the Roma man again and then Balotelli before Ricardo Montolivio blazed a rebound over.
Hodgson made changes bringing on Andy Carroll and Theo Walcott for Welbeck and Milner but it had little effect. England’s only chance of the half fell to Young who couldn’t get a shot away clearly with the ball deflecting wide of the Liverpool striker.
AC Milan’s Antonio Nocerino was brought on late on and he forced Johnson into a fine block inside the area before Rooney saw an overhead kick go over after being picked out by Carroll just before the final whistle in normal time.
Extra-time came and went with England still firmly on the back-foot. Italy kept the ball well and for all their pressure only really troubled Hart in goal once. When they did sub Alessandro Diamanti picked out Nocerino offside in the area to head home.
The goal was correctly ruled meaning penalties would decide this quarter-final. Balotelli and Gerrard scored before Montolivio struck wide. Rooney put England in the lead before Pirlo cheekily chipped his spot-kick home to put Italy back level.
Young capped a frustrating night by striking against the bar before Nocerino put Italy in front. Cole then saw his weak effort saved by Buffon before former West Ham winger Diamanti successfully scored putting Italy through to a semi-final clash with Germany.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
