Sunday June 24, 2012 Quarter-final Finished Olimpiyskyi

  1. England go out on penalties

    England go out on penalties

    England were knocked out of Euro 2012 in all too familiar circumstances, losing 4-2 on penalties against Italy following a goalless draw. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:120'
    • England
    • Italy
    • 2-4 ITALY WIN! Alessandro Diamanti sends Hart the wrong way and Italy reach the semi-finals of Euro 2012 via a 4-2 victory on penalties.
    • 2-3 ENGLAND MISS! Cole's effort is saved, low to his left by Buffon.
    • 2-3 Nocerino with a stutter and calmly places his shot into the left corner.
    • 2-2 ENGLAND MISS! Young smashes his effort against the crossbar.
    • 2-2 Pirlo with a Panenka chip down the middle. Class!
    • 2-1 Rooney smashes his penalty into the left corner.
    • 1-1 ITALY MISS! Montolivo drags his effort well past the post.
    • 1-1 Gerrard in the same corner, past Buffon.
    • 0-1 Balotelli stutters and then strokes the ball into the corner, past the diving Hart.
    • - Here we go, it will be Balotelli with the opening penalty.
    • - Italy have been involved seven penalty shoot-outs at European Championships and World Cups, winning two (Euro 2000 semi-final vs Netherlands and 2006 World Cup final vs France).
    • - England have been involved in six penalty shoot-outs, winning only one (vs Spain in the quarter-final at Euro 1996).
    • 120' FULL-TIME: We will have a penalty shoot-out.
    • 119' Gerrard seems to win the ball cleanly but Diamanti wins the free-kick and Maggio's cross is cut out by Henderson before Hart clears.
    • 118' Pirlo finds Maggio whose cross finds Nocerino before Montolivo's shot from outside the penalty area is dragged well wide of Hart's goal.
    • 117' Italy win a corner but Diamanti's delivery drifts out for a goal kick.
    • 116' This is one-way traffic. England have been camped inside their own half for almost the entire extra-time period.
    • 115' ITALY GOAL OFFSIDE! Diamanti's cross from the right is headed home from close range by Nocerino but he is correctly ruled offside. England hearts in mouths there.
    • 114' Balzaretti fizzes a ball across the area and finds Diamanti who cannot direct his effort on target from 10 yards. A real chance for the former Hammer, the best of extra-time.
    • 113' Diamanti finds Maggio in space on the right but his shot is charged down by Cole.
    • 112' Pirlo leaves it to Balotelli who blazes his 25-yard shot high into the evening sky.
    • 111' Marchisio wins a free-kick after a pretty tame tackle from Carroll. Pirlo can put one in the mixer.
    • 110' Two vital defensive headers from Carroll back in his own penalty area and England continue to hang on.
    • 109' Maggio impeded by Young and Diamanti will be able to swing over a free-kick from a dangerous position on the right.
    • 108' Diamanti looks to curl one into the top corner, having cut in from the right, but way off target with his left foot.
    • 107' Maggio gets to the by-line and Lescott slips but Terry can clear the cross.
    • 106' Here we go for the final 15 minutes.
    • 105+1 That is half-time in extra-time. We are now just 15 minutes away from a penalty shoot-out.
    • 105' Walcott bursts into the penalty area but just too much purchase on his dink to the back post intended for Carroll.
    • 104' For the record, England had the best shot conversion rate in the group stages (21.7%).
    • 103' The atttempts on goal count is now 30-9 in Italy's favour, they have also had 62% of possession.
    • 102' DIAMANTI HITS THE POST! It is probably a mis-hit cross from the sub but Hart dives full length to his right and cannot reach it, he is grateful as he sees the ball hit the outside of the post.
    • 101' Another shot by Balotelli but straight at Hart from 20 yards.
    • 100' Balotelli's shot loops off Terry and into the grateful hands of Hart.
    • 99' Ambitious effort from Balotelli and it is charged down.... as so many Italian shots have been tonight.
    • 98' Carroll finds Young but his cross, intended for Rooney, is too high and Buffon claims.
    • 97' A long ball over the top is inches away from being brought down by Balotelli who would have been clean through on goal, having sprung the England offside trap.
    • 96' Diamanti's cross is cut out by Lescott and England can break through Walcott but Rooney is outnumbered on the edge of the penalty area.
    • 95' An exhausted Parker is replaced by Henderson who was not in the original 23.
    • 94' Maggio booked for a foul from behind on Young and will miss the semi-final if Italy progress.
    • 93' Jordan Henderson is poised to come on for England.
    • 92' Nocerino fires over the top from 25 yards after a spell of sustained Italy possession.
    • 91' Here we go for extra-time. England v Italy is the first game at Euro 2012 to be goalless after 90 minutes.
    • 90+4' FULL-TIME! We head into extra-time. England have rode their luck but are still alive in Euro 2012.
    • 90+3' CHANCE FOR ENGLAND! Young feeds Cole on the overlap, his cross is high but Carroll can just about head back across goal for Rooney whose bicycle kick is over the bar.
    • 90+2' Pirlo's shot is blocked by Parker and Walcott can break to give England some respite.
    • 90+1' Ignazio Abate is replaced by Cristian Maggio.
    • 90' Three minutes of added time to be played.
    • 89' England deal with the corner as we head towards time added on.
    • 88' SUPERB BLOCK BY JOHNSON! Marchisio's superb pass finds Nocerino who brings the ball down first time but his shot from close range is blocked by Johnson on the cover.
    • 87' For once Pirlo's pass for Abate is too strong.
    • 86' Carroll's shot is charged down from 20 yards before Parker fails to find Walcott with what should be a simple pass.
    • 85' Italy playing keep ball as we enter the last five minutes.
    • 84' Balzaretti is back with us. Parker was denied the chance to get a cross in as the referee deemed it was a head injury.
    • 83' Gerrard's free-kick into the penalty area and Terry's shirt is being held before Parker's shot is charged down by Balzaretti who needs treatment.
    • 82' Barzagli sees yellow for what is deemed an aggressive tackle on Young, he wins the ball but his studs are on the top of the ball. The first yellow of the match.
    • 81' Diamanti shoots on the turn from 20 yards with his left foot and Hart makes a sharp stop, diving down to his left.
    • 80' Another change for Italy as Antonio Nocerino replaces De Rossi.
    • 79' Marchisio's cross comes off Parker and Hart punches it off the head of Balotelli for a corner.
    • 78' A change as former West Ham man Alessandro Diamanti replaces Cassano.
    • 77' Carroll wins a free-kick and Gerrard's cross really should have been met by Rooney but he seems to jump underneath the ball with Andrea Barzagli tracking him.
    • 76' The shot count is 20-5 in Italy's favour.
    • 75' Then Marchisio sees his shot charged down by Terry.
    • 74' Pirlo's effort from distance is blocked by Lescott.
    • 73' On the contrary, in nine quarter-final matches at the European Championships or World Cup finals, Italy have only been knocked out twice and both times have been on penalties.
    • 72' Gerrard needs treatment for cramp, not a good sign with potentially another 50 minutes to be played.
    • 71' Remember England have lost seven out of eight quarter-final games at major tournaments away from Wembley with the Italia 1990 victory against Cameroon the only exception.
    • 70' England struggle to maintain possession again but De Rossi fails to pick out Cassano with his ball over the top.
    • 69' Pirlo to Abate is a ball that seems always to be on but for once Young prevents the cross.
    • 68' Carroll is certainly putting himself about since coming on, he concedes another free-kick.
    • 67' De Rossi's blast at goal is headed away by Lescott....he would have felt that.
    • 66' Balotelli feeds Marchisio whose shot from the edge of the penalty area is blocked by Terry.
    • 65' A real melee in the area from the resulting corner but Carroll is the man penalised.
    • 64' England's best chance of the second-half! Walcott's cross is intended for Carroll but falls to Young whose shot is deflected behind for a corner. The Liverpool striker already causing some headaches.
    • 63' Pirlo picks out De Rossi at the far post but he volleys wide, a more acute angle this time.
    • 62' England have just caught an opposition forward offside for the first time in the entire tournament.
    • 61' Milner and Welbeck are the men to make way for the subs.
    • 60' Balotelli holds off Terry in the penalty area and his attempted bicycle kick is over the crossbar but a great effort.
    • 59' Andy Carroll and Theo Walcott are poised to come on.
    • 58' A clash of heads between Abate and Young and both need treatment.
    • 57' Cassano's dink to the back stick is retrieved by Balzaretti but he fails to capitalise and some respite for England.
    • 56' Crucial clearing header by Lescott from Pirlo's corner.
    • 55' Pirlo allowed too much time to pull the strings and Cole is forced to concede a corner.
    • 54' Italy are dominating now. Hodgson may look to change things soon. Young, in particular, has been poor.
    • 53' Milner's 25-yard shot fails to test Buffon.
    • 52' ENGLAND'S GOAL LEADING A CHARMED LIFE! A 30-yard blast from De Rossi is parried by Hart straight into the path of Balotelli who is denied from close range by the legs of his Eastlands team-mate before Montolivo volleys over under pressure from Johnson.
    • 51' Parker loses the ball deep in his own penalty area and Abate's cross is crucially flicked away at the back post by Terry.
    • 50' Rooney commits defenders and Abate is forced to conceded a corner which is headed away by Bonucci.
    • 49' DE ROSSI MISSES A SITTER! Hart punches Pirlo's corner away, it is turned back into the penalty area by Montolivo and De Rossi, unmarked, volleys wide from six yards.
    • 48' Abate gets to the by-line and Johnson is forced to turn the cross away at the far post before conceding a corner.
    • 47' Parker finds Rooney in the penalty area almost immediately but he can't get a shot off and then Milner tricks Balzaretti but can't pick out a team-mate in the box.
    • 46' Here we go for the second-half.
    • 45' HALF-TIME! The end of a highly entertaining opening period. Good chances aplenty for both sides but no goals yet. Remember you can carry on the discussion on Twitter: @Lee_Eurosport
    • 44' By scoring against Ireland, Balotelli became only the second Italian player to score for his country at a European Champtionship or World Cup while not representing an Italian club.
    • 43' Balotelli looks to make amends for his miss and unleashes a 30-yard blast that is not too far over the crossbar.
    • 42' Italy make a complete hash of a free-kick and England can break but Rooney's cross from the left fails to find a team-mate in the penalty area.
    • 41' BALOTELLI MISSES SITTER! Pirlo's cross to the back post is headed across goal by Cassano and somehow Balotelli stabs over the top from four yards. He kicks the post in frustration. He was under pressure from Lescott but should have scored.
    • 40' Balotelli goes down cheaply in the penalty area but certainly no spot kick.
    • 39' Cassano lets fly from 25 yards, good contact and he stings Hart's fingertips with the shot but in truth a comfortable save from the England #1.
    • 38' Rooney is angry at Mr Proenca after no free-kick is awarded following a tackle from behind by De Rossi.
    • 37' England very much playing the containing, counter-attacking game we saw in the group stages.
    • 35' De Rossi's through ball is cut out by Johnson on the edge of his own penalty area.
    • 34' Italy have completed 100 more passes than England so far.
    • 33' Cassano cuts inside from the left but drags his shot wide of the near post, no trouble for Hart.
    • 32' WASTEFUL WELBECK! Great break by England and inter-play between Rooney and Welbeck but the youngster leans back on his shot from 18 yards and fails to test Buffon.
    • 31' A superb lift over the England defence by Montolivo and the ball sits up for Balotelli who attempts to scissor kick the ball towards goal but fails to get much power on his effort and Hart saves.
    • 30' England have managed just one win from their last nine games against Italy but an even opening half hour.
    • 29' Gerrard outmuscles Cassano on the edge of the penalty area. Italy have most of the possession right now.
    • 28' Speculative long-range effort from Montolivo fails to test Hart.
    • 27' Both Italy and England scored the opening goal in each of their first three games, with Germany the only other team to have managed to do so. Something must give tonight.
    • 26' BALOTELLI WASTES CHANCE! Balotelli is played onside by Johnson and is in acres of space 30 yards from goal but Terry gets back to make a crucial block.
    • 25' Milner's cross from the right is intended for Rooney but superbly headed away by Bonucci.
    • 24' Neat turn from Montolivo but he over runs the ball on the edge of the penalty area and Lescott can step in.
    • 23' Cassano tries his luck from 25 yards but his effort is a long way wide of Hart's far post.
    • 22' Pirlo's corner is headed away at the near post by Welbeck. It was not too far away from reaching Bonucci.
    • 21' Cassano looks to pull the trigger from 20 yards but England have bodies back and his attempt is blocked. But Italy then win their first corner.
    • 20' Gerrard swings the ball into the penalty area, aiming for Rooney, but too strong.
    • 19' Montolivo attempts to loft the ball over the England defence but a good starting position from Hart who reaches the dink ahead of Cassano.
    • 18' Pirlo's delivery is too deep and although it reaches Balzaretti, the cross from the full-back drifts behind for a goal kick.
    • 17' Lescott fouls Manchester City team-mate Balotelli out on the right touchline which will allow Pirlo the chance to swing over a dangerous ball.
    • 16' Rooney powers past Pirlo down the right but his cross drifts behind for a goal kick.
    • 15' Balzaretti's cross is cleared by Gerrard in his own area.
    • 14' ROONEY HEADS OVER! A wonderfully clipped ball into the penalty area by Johnson and Rooney meets the cross with a diving header but cannot direct his header on target from eight yards although he was under pressure from covering right-back Ignazio Abate.
    • 13' Buffon elects to punch under no real pressure and Parker returns the ball with interest from 30 yards but well wide.
    • 12' Johnson beats two and gets to the by-line but his cross is too high for Rooney.
    • 11' Wayne Rooney's low cross is aimed for Welbeck but Leonardo Bonucci puts it behind for a corner. From the corner, Rooney hits the floor under pressure from Bonucci but never a penalty.
    • 10' Ashley Young swings a cross from the left to the back post but Balzaretti out leaps Milner.
    • 9' Gerrard's low ball into the penalty box is comfortably cleared.
    • 8' Italy have only been knocked out at the quarter finals of a major tournament on two of the nine occasions that they have reached this stage – both times on penalty kicks (Euro 2008 v Spain and World Cup 1998 v France).
    • 7' That was a great chance for Johnson but the ball got stuck under his feet and Buffon was allowed to make the stop.
    • 6' Driving run from Scott Parker is curtailed in the penalty area.
    • 5' BUFFON DENIES ENGLAND! England's first sustained spell of possession and James Milner's square ball is poked towards goal by Glen Johnson of all people from seven yards but there is not enough purchase on the effort and Gianluigi Buffon claws away.
    • 4' ITALY HIT THE POST! That would have been the goal of the tournament. The ball is pulled back from the right to Daniele De Rossi who hits across his effort from 30 yards and is so unlucky to see the ball hit the woodwork with Hart beaten.
    • 3' Joleon Lescott's clearance falls to Montolivo who feeds Federico Balzaretti but his cross from the left into the penalty area is too deep.
    • 2' Joe Hart and John Terry almost get themselves in a muddle before the Chelsea captain clears his lines.
    • 1' Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano kick off.
    • 19:45 Still no 0-0 draw after 27 matches in this tournament so hopes are high for more goals tonight. We are almost ready for the off.
    • 19:40 The teams are out and it is time for the anthems.
    • 19:35 We shouldn't forget tonight's man in the middle, Portuguese Pedro Proenca. Proenca took charge of this season's Champions League final between Chelsea and Bayern Munich. Pedro Proenca profile
    • 19:30 Since beating West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final, England have not beaten a country that had previously won the World Cup in a knock-out match at either a European Championships or a World Cup. A nation awaits.
    • 19:25 Cesare Prandelli: "It's going to be tough game and we must go into the game without any fear. Over the course of the 90 minutes we've got to retain our focus, so we can wait for our opportunity. The side we're going to take on has a lot of good footballers. They are very organised, they don't just play all over the place. England are one of the most disciplined European sides. They play all together within a space of 40 yards and we need to stop them playing football.
    • 19:20 Roy Hodgson: "We're not underdogs in any way. We have good-quality players who are recognised worldwide and, certainly, would get into a lot of the top European teams. Spain have had a few scares along the way and Italy have been stable in their performances without actually tearing the tournament up. Things were up in the air because our preparation time was so short and we lost four senior players to injury in the build-up. But we've managed to put that to one side."
    • 19:15 England and Italy have only met twice in European Championship or World Cup history and both were matches on Italian soil that were won by Italy: 1-0 at Euro 1980 and 2-1 at the 1990 World Cup (3rd place play-off).
    • 19:10 Andrea Pirlo could be a key man tonight. He played one Serie A match at Internazionale under Roy Hodgson in May 1999. Hodgson returned to Inter for a short spell in April of that year after leading the club between October 1995 and May 1997. Video: Parker praises Pirlo
    • 19:05 Our man in Ukraine is Tom Adams and he rated both teams in old school Shoot magazine fashion. Italia 87-84 England was his verdict. England v Italy: Head-to-head
    • 19:00 Many people are saying this is a 50-50 game. According to Infostrada's Euro Club Index, which also projects competitive international matches, England have a 51% chance of progressing to the semis while Italy have a 49% chance. Read more about the methodology
    • 18:55 Here's a cheerful thought. On this day eight years ago in the Euro 2004 quarter-finals, England were knocked out by Portugal on penalties. Will history repeat itself?
    • 18:50 So the England line-up is unchanged but three changes for the Azzurri. Italy are sticking with four at the back with Bonucci in for the injured Chiellini. Riccardo Montolivo comes in for Motta, who is reported to be fit, and Balotelli replaces Antonio Di Natale.
    • 18:45 TEAMS: England: Hart, Johnson, Cole, Terry, Lescott, Gerrard, Young, Parker, Rooney, Welbeck /// Italy: Buffon, Balzaretti, Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Marchisio, De Rossi, Montolivo, Pirlo, Balotelli, Cassano
    • 18:40 Early Doors was becoming giddily excited by the lack of excitement surrounding the national team before Euro 2012 but the only thing worse than not being in a tournament is being in a tournament. That's when the pain really starts. England go in search of fresh catastrophe
    • 18:35 If you are on the web you can watch our video as Rafael Benitez and Patrick Kluivert pull apart England's defensive system. Benitez analyses England defence
    • 18:30 Eurosport pundit Arsene Wenger says: "England against Italy is a 50-50 game. England had no expectations and are now in the quarter-final which is already a miracle for the whole country. They can create a massive surprise and go further and further." England can continue Euro miracle
    • 18:25 Italy will be without Giorgio Chiellini, the 27-year-old defender having picked up a thigh injury in the 2-0 victory over Ireland which booked the Azzurri's place in the last eight. Leonardo Bonucci is set to replace him. Thiago Motta appears to have overcome a slight hamstring strain and will start while Cesare Prandelli has hinted that Mario Balotelli could start up front against Antonio di Natale. We will find out in about 20 minutes.
    • 18:20 But we asked our continental network of Eurosport-Yahoo! experts to give us their perspective on England under Roy Hodgson...and they are not all complimentary. 'Engand are boring and Terry is a jerk'
    • 18:15 You've seen the flags on the cars and today's newspapers aren't so much reports about the latest England v Italy news as excitable fanzines cheering for the national team. Paper round: Just one goal-etto
    • 18:10 The boffins say that Walcott is the man in the final third but Milner does the donkey work. Who should play on England's wings?
    • 18:05 40 minutes until the teams are named but Roy Hodgson is expected to start with the same side that began against Ukraine on Tuesday with Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck starting up front and James Milner again preferred to Theo Walcott for a starting role on the right.
    • 18:00 England and Italy meet at Kiev's Olympic Stadium as the two teams vie for a Euro 2012 semi-final clash against Germany on Thursday. I'm Lee Walker and I will be your guide to tonight's match with all the build-up ahead of the 19:45 kick-off. You can follow me on Twitter @leewalk498

  • Summary

    • 2-4 ITALY WIN! Alessandro Diamanti sends Hart the wrong way and Italy reach the semi-finals of Euro 2012 via a 4-2 victory on penalties.
    • 114' Balzaretti fizzes a ball across the area and finds Diamanti who cannot direct his effort on target from 10 yards. A real chance for the former Hammer, the best of extra-time.
    • 102' DIAMANTI HITS THE POST! It is probably a mis-hit cross from the sub but Hart dives full length to his right and cannot reach it, he is grateful as he sees the ball hit the outside of the post.
    • 90+3' CHANCE FOR ENGLAND! Young feeds Cole on the overlap, his cross is high but Carroll can just about head back across goal for Rooney whose bicycle kick is over the bar.
    • 88' SUPERB BLOCK BY JOHNSON! Marchisio's superb pass finds Nocerino who brings the ball down first time but his shot from close range is blocked by Johnson on the cover.
    • 64' England's best chance of the second-half! Walcott's cross is intended for Carroll but falls to Young whose shot is deflected behind for a corner. The Liverpool striker already causing some headaches.
    • 52' ENGLAND'S GOAL LEADING A CHARMED LIFE! A 30-yard blast from De Rossi is parried by Hart straight into the path of Balotelli who is denied from close range by the legs of his Eastlands team-mate before Montolivo volleys over under pressure from Johnson.
    • 49' DE ROSSI MISSES A SITTER! Hart punches Pirlo's corner away, it is turned back into the penalty area by Montolivo and De Rossi, unmarked, volleys wide from six yards.
    • 41' BALOTELLI MISSES SITTER! Pirlo's cross to the back post is headed across goal by Cassano and somehow Balotelli stabs over the top from four yards. He kicks the post in frustration. He was under pressure from Lescott but should have scored.
    • 31' A superb lift over the England defence by Montolivo and the ball sits up for Balotelli who attempts to scissor kick the ball towards goal but fails to get much power on his effort and Hart saves.
    • 26' BALOTELLI WASTES CHANCE! Balotelli is played onside by Johnson and is in acres of space 30 yards from goal but Terry gets back to make a crucial block.
    • 14' ROONEY HEADS OVER! A wonderfully clipped ball into the penalty area by Johnson and Rooney meets the cross with a diving header but cannot direct his header on target from eight yards although he was under pressure from covering right-back Ignazio Abate.
    • 5' BUFFON DENIES ENGLAND! England's first sustained spell of possession and James Milner's square ball is poked towards goal by Glen Johnson of all people from seven yards but there is not enough purchase on the effort and Gianluigi Buffon claws away.
    • 4' ITALY HIT THE POST! That would have been the goal of the tournament. The ball is pulled back from the right to Daniele De Rossi who hits across his effort from 30 yards and is so unlucky to see the ball hit the woodwork with Hart beaten.
    • 18:45 TEAMS: England: Hart, Johnson, Cole, Terry, Lescott, Gerrard, Young, Parker, Rooney, Welbeck /// Italy: Buffon, Balzaretti, Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Marchisio, De Rossi, Montolivo, Pirlo, Balotelli, Cassano

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

    Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account.

    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.6 7
      Defenders
      5.4 7
      5.9 8
      5.5 7
      5.2 6
      Midfielders
      5.9 6
      Substitution Out94′ 5.2 5
      Substitution Out61′ 4.1 6
      4.1 5
      4 4
      Strikers
      Substitution Out60′ 4.5 5
      Subs
      Substitution In61′ 5.1 5
      Substitution In60′ 5.4 6
      Substitution In94′ 4.4 5
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      8.1 7
      Defenders
      Substitution Out90′ 6.5 7
      Yellow Card 6.4 6
      6.4 6
      6.6 6
      Midfielders
      7.9 9
      6.8 7
      Substitution Out80′ 7.1 6
      6.5 7
      Strikers
      Substitution Out78′ 6.4 5
      6.4 6
      Subs
      Substitution In90′ Yellow Card 6.1 6
      Substitution In78′ 7.4 7
      Substitution In80′ 7.1 7

Comment 1478 - 1498 of 1498

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

  1. 4-3-3

    From Alex, on Thu 28 Jun 0:26

  2. they could of beat italy any day

    From , on Wed 27 Jun 18:37

  3. I can't belive england lost

    From , on Wed 27 Jun 18:36

  4. di natale would have put away half of the chances that­ Balotelli missed

    From Enrico, on Wed 27 Jun 5:02

  5. Why do Enagland ALWAYS LOSE PENALTIES!

    From Scott, on Wed 27 Jun 4:32

  6. :-))))

    From Michelle, on Wed 27 Jun 3:21

  7. Land of Hope and Glory, fortress of the­ Free,................ How may we extol thee, praise­ thee, honour thee?................ Hark, a mighty­ nation maketh glad reply;.............. Lo, our lips­ are thankful, lo, our hearts are­ high!.................. Hearts in hope uplifted, loyal­ lips that sing;............... Strong in faith and­ freedom, we have crowned our King!..................

    From wild woodpecker®, on Tue 26 Jun 21:53

  8. Totally disjointed tatics, forwards surrounded by three­ of four defenders when they received the ball, midfield­ and defence unwilling to join the attack to support­ them,no creative midfield + no one willing to pick up­ Pirlo you can't win matches if you are unwilling to­ leave your own penalty area,they reminded me of the­ Wimbledon of old but not as good.

    From DAVID, on Tue 26 Jun 21:44

  9. England have only made one I repeat ONE major final­ ever. Compare that to the other top teams. England­ players are not technically good enough. They have­ excuses of mangers tactics referees etc. Face fatcs the­ english are not good enough.

    From marc, on Tue 26 Jun 19:26

  10. English players are not good enough technically. You­ have two world class players if fit: Rooney and Ashley­ cole and ashley cole offers nothing in attack. He is a­ greta defender but not attacking full back. Aslo none­ of those players can pass the ball to the standard­ required in the Spanish team. Gerard has skill BUT he­ gives the ball away far too often with ridicuolus long­ passes. Engalnd will never compete unitl they sort­ out their grass roots football.

    From marc, on Tue 26 Jun 19:17

  11. Italians deserved victory and they had it.

    From kwassi, on Tue 26 Jun 19:01

  12. italy will get smashed by germany but they will giv­ 100% of there energy italy realy wont to repeat 2006.

    From Oliver Cesar, on Tue 26 Jun 12:01

  13. Both played more or less in the same way . The lucky­ one won the lottery

    From sabu, on Tue 26 Jun 11:39

  14. ANTHONY wrote, “There are too many foreign (none­ English)¬ players in the Premier League­ teams,…………………….” Ok Mr Anthony, between 1967 and 1994,­ why didn’t England win a single tournament since there­ was no influx of foreign players in the league then?­ Stop giving lame excuses, England is S H I T but­ that’s no longer news coz everyone knows. What is now­ news is that there is this cancer called­ “EnglandWillWinNextTournament”, Doctors has been­ battling over this disease since 1966 . IT HAS DEFILED­ ALL FORMS OF MEDICAL TREATMENT.

    From LEGENDARY, on Tue 26 Jun 0:51

  15. A Quarter final exit in the World Cup 2014 is also­ likely. There are too many foreign (none English)­ players in the Premier League teams, this is having a­ bad effect on the England team, since this is not­ likely to change, expect Quarter Final (or worse) exits­ in future tournaments!

    From Anthony, on Mon 25 Jun 23:49

  16. Thank goodness we went out to Italy. If we had scraped­ through on pens, Germany would have totally embarrassed­ England. There was no clue on how to attack, no guile­ and apparently little appetite to cross the half way­ line, or even leave England's third of the pitch.­ Pirlo was man of the match by a mile because no one­ came within ten yards of him and allowed him the space­ to do whatever he wanted. Why do Milner and Young keep­ there place, when neither bring to the team anything­ like what is required to open up opposition and create­ chances. Along with Rooney, both were either crossing­ way too deep, or to defenders, or trying to beat too­ many and losing the ball. Accurate passing did not­ exist. Only the defenders, Terry and Lescott kept­ England in the game, with Terry working overtime to­ help keep a clean sheet. How long can a team last when­ there is no offense, only defense. It seems we have a­ long, dreary few years to bear under coach Roy's­ defensive tactics. From Boredeye.

    From john, on Mon 25 Jun 21:31

  17. England were poor through out the tournament apart from­ one Good game against Sweden,they had gone too far­ already. They were extremely lucky to just beat­ ukraine by a header. They played for draw by defending­ through out still they were poor defence wise ,lucky­ enough Italy could get a goal. They were practising­ penalties and still after all the preparation they­ could not win.How Poor n Sad. England should stop­ relying on Rooney,he is ON and Off striker who needs­ really good team to give him ball n shoot the ball­ ,alone he is useless.so england should stop relying on­ rooney and try to search two or three young and­ creative strikers who has guts to score.Should play­ alot more attacking game rather defending.Bring in more­ Young and creative players,only IF English Footballs­ system allows.

    From Muqaddas, on Mon 25 Jun 20:22

  18. A team of mostly average players, with an odd few world­ class, Spain are World class player for player.

    From Anthony, on Mon 25 Jun 19:41

  19. Once again England sabotaged their success by screwing­ up their team - this time it was the last second­ coaching staff - right before the major tournament. ­ How do they ever expect to win when the FA fights the­ coaches and the players fight each other and the­ English media fights all of them? The England squad­ had no strategy in any of the games! Doesn't it­ seem like a waste for Rooney/Gerrard/Terry and the core­ players that they are now another 2 years older and­ didn't even really prepare for the tournament at­ all? What a waste.

    From General Zod, on Mon 25 Jun 16:42

  20. WHY PLAY scott parker and Milna... when WALCOTT AND OX­ are available????????? boring players with no idea...

    From Micheal, on Mon 25 Jun 15:59
Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account