It was, sadly, as predictable as Christmas occurring in December, England crashed out of yet another major tournament on penalties as Italy booked a semi-final showdown with Germany in Euro 2012 on Sunday evening. Alessandro Diamanti slotted home the decisive spot-kick after both Ashley Young and Ashley Cole had missed for England. Roy Hodgson's side had ridden their luck during normal time (and, especially, in extra time) as Italy dominated possession for the majority of the game and had a host of chances (many of them falling to Mario Balotelli) but could not break the deadlock. The Italians hit the post twice and Antonio Nocerino's late scrambled effort was ruled out for offside but ultimately England's luck ran out in the shoot-out as it usually does. In truth, after a decent display in the first half in which despite having less possession they, at least, looked like they had a few ideas of how to break down the Italians, England were desperately poor thereafter and anything other than an Italian win would have been an injustice. England defended well - particularly Glen Johnson and John Terry - but they were woeful going forward, giving the ball away, needlessly, far too often and generally lacking creativity and guile. And, once big lumbering Andy Carroll had replaced the more mobile Danny Welbeck, England's sole plan seemed to be to hoof long balls up to the lanky Liverpool striker and hope for the best. With Wayne Rooney looking about as far away from a world class international footballer as it's possible to, it was left to the Italian playmaker Andrea Pirlo to dominate the game. Italy were vastly superior to England over the course of one hundred and twenty minutes - but the resilience and organisation which have swiftly become the trademark under new manager Roy Hodgson took an enthralling game all the way to penalties. And, as on five of the previous six occasions that England have entered this sudden-death environment, they were left broken hearted, with Italy confirming a semi-final meeting with Germany in Warsaw on Thursday. England's captain Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney were successful from the spot - about the only thing Rooney did right all night - but Ashley Young struck the bar and Ashley Cole's effort was saved by Italy's 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 Pirlo audaciously chipped in his spot-kick and Antonio Nocerino coolly slotted home before former West Ham midfielder Alessandro Diamanti scored the decisive penalty. England cannot complain that the better team did not emerge as winners - but even in the face of a constant wave of Italian attacks Hodgson's men still showed enough heart and durability to make their Euro 2012 exit with some pride. As Italy subjected them to what was almost torture by possession, England's back four and goalkeeper Joe Hart responded magnificently by erecting a wall of defiance, with John Terry outstanding. England will head for home on Monday after a campaign they can reflect on with a measure of satisfaction despite the disappointment. Hodgson - at short notice - marshalled his forces effectively but the gulf in class with Italy was clear for all to see and his team looked jaded long before the end of ninety minutes, let alone extra time. Hodgson will now take stock of events in Ukraine, where England drew with France and won against Sweden and Ukraine to top Group D, as he plots the qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Hodgson picked England's first unchanged team since the miserable last-sixteen encounter with Germany at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa - a show of faith in the side that beat Ukraine in Donetsk. England were almost given the worst possible start when, after a prolonged period of possession, De Rossi's swerving left-foot volley hit the post with Hart stretching in vain to make contact. If this was an ominous start for England, they responded with an opportunity of their own when Glen Johnson found space in the area but could not get sufficient power in his shot and Buffon was able to claw the ball away. England's opening spell had been their best of Euro 2012. It was almost capped with a goal in the thirteenth minute when Johnson crossed for Rooney but he could only glance a header over the top. Balotelli had been his usual combination of threat mixed with moments of infuriating slackness. He was slow to react to the peerless Pirlo's pass and allowed Terry to make a fine recovering tackle, then forced his Sheikh Yer Man City team-mate Hart into a save from a low effort. England had lost the measure of control they had exerted for a spell, but there was still much to encourage Hodgson, particularly when Rooney opened up Italy's defence and Danny Welbeck should have done better than side foot wide from the edge of the area. 
Balotelli was again involved as he closed in on Antonio Cassano's header six yards out but was left hacking at the post in frustration as Terry and Joleon Lescott combined to clear. Italy continued to control possession after the break and England were fortunate to survive a chaotic incident in which Hart saved from De Rossi and Balotelli before Montolivo diverted the rebound over the bar. Hodgson knew he needed to shift the momentum away from Italy and he chose to try to do it with a double substitution on the hour, replacing Welbeck and a very disappointing James Milner with Andy Carroll and Theo Walcott. Both were involved as England managed to unsettle Italy, only for Young's close-range effort to be deflected following work by Carroll. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli introduced Diamanti in an attempt to pierce England's stubborn resistance and he swiftly forced Hart into a smart save. The game continued to absorb into the closing seconds of normal time as Johnson produced a crucial block to stop Italian substitute Nocerino, while Rooney almost stole the win for England with an overhead kick at the other end. England made a quick change in extra time as Jordan Henderson replaced Scott Parker but Italy still held the initiative, with Diamanti's attempted cross bouncing of the upright to safety. Nocerino then had the ball in the net with a header as penalties loomed, but it was rightly ruled out for offside. So it went to penalties - and a familiar tale of woe as England were again the victims of this cruellest form of defeat.
In the aftermath of another penalty shoot-out fiasco, Roy Hodgson defended Ashley Young and Ashley Cole. 'Anyone can miss a penalty. They were not nonchalant,' Hodgson said. 'Ashley Young's smashed against the bar and Ashley Cole's was well saved by Gianluigi Buffon.' He told BBC Sport: 'A player's reputation should not be forged on a penalty shoot-out, their reputation should be forged on the four games and in those four games we have not lost. We stuck to our guns right until the end and the players should be very proud of what they did. I have learned a lot about the players and their determination and dedication to the task and the fact they are so keen to play for England. There were some heroic performances not only tonight but also in the previous three games.' England keeper Joe Hart failed to save any of Italy's penalties, with the Azzurri's only failure coming when Riccardo Montolivo sent his effort wide. 'I went in confident we would win the game,' said Hart. 'I was required to step up and didn't make the saves. They were superior in regards to chances, but we were very resolute and gave everything when defending. I face penalties against Mario Balotelli on the training ground and I felt confident, but he took a good penalty. Of course I expect to make saves, I feel like no-one can beat me. We've lost at the end of the day, but I don't think anyone has let the country down and we have adapted well to the manager.' Hodgson had his players practising penalties in the build-up to the game and he had hoped they would be able to improve England's dire record in penalty shoot-outs. 'When we took it to penalties I was rather hoping it would be our tournament to win on penalties. Certainly the practising didn't help us too much on this occasion,' he said. 'Maybe it's just fated at the moment that we don't win on penalties but I really can't fault any of the players for their effort. At the end we had lots of players out there running on empty, with very tired legs, fighting off cramp, but they kept us in there until the end and when you go to penalties you do have a chance, but unfortunately Italy took the chance and not us. Penalties has become an obsession for us in English football and in training the players have done extremely well. But you can't reproduce the tired legs. You can't reproduce the pressure. You can't reproduce the nervous tension. [The Italians] stood up to it better than we did. Pirlo's [dinked] penalty was the perfect example.' England almost took the lead when an early Glen Johnson effort was saved by Buffon but they were on the backfoot for most of the game as Italy went close with several chances as well as hitting the woodwork twice. 'I thought the chances were there for both teams but as the second half went on we tired very badly and they came at us again and again,' said Hodgson. 'We have lost and we have gone out without losing a game with our heads held high.' England's next competitive game is a World Cup qualifier against Moldova on 7 September and, despite their Euro 2012 exit, Hodgson has been impressed by the qualities shown by his squad. 'I've been very happy with what I have seen from this group of players and how they have dealt with the demands of an England shirt,' he said. 'I do think we have got some very good young players coming through and this tournament has been very good for them.'
France midfielder Samir Nasri became involved in a row with a French journalist after his side's Euro 2012 quarter-final defeat by Spain. The clash occurred in the Donbass Arena after the Sheikh Yer Man City player was asked for his reaction to the result. Nasri reportedly called the journalist 'a son of a bitch' (or, you know, 'un fils de pute' since, presumably, he said it in French) and repeatedly complained about the media's behaviour. The twenty four-year-old, a substitute in the game, added: 'There, now you'll be able to say I've been badly brought up.' Two goals from Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso brought an end to France's campaign in Poland and Ukraine. Manager Laurent Blanc bemoaned the early goal his side conceded against a team he believed 'were there for the taking. The only thing I regret is that they scored off their first chance,' the forty six-year-old said.
'If we had gone in 0-0 at half-time, I think we would have had more room in the second half.' Blanc fielded two right-backs with Anthony Reveillere in the defensive position and Mathieu Debuchy pushed up into midfield to stem Spain's threat on their left flank, but his plan did not have the desired effect. First, Real Madrid midfielder Alonso headed the holders into a nineteenth-minute lead following some excellent work down that side by Valencia full-back Jordi Alba. Then a clumsy challenge from Reveillere in injury time allowed Alonso to score his second goal from the penalty spot. 'We had analysed the Spanish line-up well because they had two very strong players on the left but the most frustrating thing is that we conceded the goal from that side,' Blanc added. The addition of Reveillere at the expense of midfielder Nasri took much of the sting out of the French side's attack and their only shot on target came in the thirty second minute when Newcastle United's Yohan Cabaye saw his free-kick tipped over by Iker Casillas. 'I think the boys gave their all,' Blanc told TF1. 'Against Spain, it's hard. It is very difficult to create danger for them. They are so tough to beat - you have to be very clinical when you only get thirty to thirty five per cent of the possession.'
Portugal legend Eusébio is in a stable condition after being taken to hospital complaining of feeling unwell. The seventy-year-old, who has been with the national side during Euro 2012 as a team ambassador, has a history of heart trouble and was taken to hospital in Poznan on Saturday. Hospital spokesman Stanislaw Rusek said: 'The news is good. Doctors are satisfied that his condition is stable. I talked to him and I asked him if his heart hurt. He said "not at all."' Eusébio, who was at Portugal's Euro 2012 quarter-final win over the Czech Republic on Thursday, underwent a heart operation five years ago and has been admitted to hospital three times since December.
He has been suffering from hypertension and his doctors have said he must have regular examinations. The former striker played for nine clubs during a twenty two-year professional career but is most remembered for his fifteen glorious years with Benfica and a goal-laden international career. Born in Mozambique in 1942 when it was still a Portuguese colony, Eusébio da Silva Ferreira went on to play sixty four times for Portugal, scoring forty one goals and winning the Golden Boot as top scorer at the 1966 World Cup. Nicknamed The Black Panther, he won ten league championships, five Portuguese cups and one European Cup in his fifteen years at Benfica and was Portugal's top league scorer between 1964 and 1973. A Portuguese Football Federation statement read: 'Eusébio felt unwell on Saturday when he was at the hotel with the team in Opalenica. After an initial observation and contacting his doctor in Lisbon, he moved as a precaution to a hospital.'
Mario Balotelli scored Italy's first spot-kick but Riccardo Montolivo's miss gave England hope that was cruelly snatched away as Pirlo audaciously chipped in his spot-kick and Antonio Nocerino coolly slotted home before former West Ham midfielder Alessandro Diamanti scored the decisive penalty. England cannot complain that the better team did not emerge as winners - but even in the face of a constant wave of Italian attacks Hodgson's men still showed enough heart and durability to make their Euro 2012 exit with some pride. As Italy subjected them to what was almost torture by possession, England's back four and goalkeeper Joe Hart responded magnificently by erecting a wall of defiance, with John Terry outstanding. England will head for home on Monday after a campaign they can reflect on with a measure of satisfaction despite the disappointment. Hodgson - at short notice - marshalled his forces effectively but the gulf in class with Italy was clear for all to see and his team looked jaded long before the end of ninety minutes, let alone extra time. Hodgson will now take stock of events in Ukraine, where England drew with France and won against Sweden and Ukraine to top Group D, as he plots the qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Hodgson picked England's first unchanged team since the miserable last-sixteen encounter with Germany at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa - a show of faith in the side that beat Ukraine in Donetsk. England were almost given the worst possible start when, after a prolonged period of possession, De Rossi's swerving left-foot volley hit the post with Hart stretching in vain to make contact. If this was an ominous start for England, they responded with an opportunity of their own when Glen Johnson found space in the area but could not get sufficient power in his shot and Buffon was able to claw the ball away. England's opening spell had been their best of Euro 2012. It was almost capped with a goal in the thirteenth minute when Johnson crossed for Rooney but he could only glance a header over the top. Balotelli had been his usual combination of threat mixed with moments of infuriating slackness. He was slow to react to the peerless Pirlo's pass and allowed Terry to make a fine recovering tackle, then forced his Sheikh Yer Man City team-mate Hart into a save from a low effort. England had lost the measure of control they had exerted for a spell, but there was still much to encourage Hodgson, particularly when Rooney opened up Italy's defence and Danny Welbeck should have done better than side foot wide from the edge of the area. 
Balotelli was again involved as he closed in on Antonio Cassano's header six yards out but was left hacking at the post in frustration as Terry and Joleon Lescott combined to clear. Italy continued to control possession after the break and England were fortunate to survive a chaotic incident in which Hart saved from De Rossi and Balotelli before Montolivo diverted the rebound over the bar. Hodgson knew he needed to shift the momentum away from Italy and he chose to try to do it with a double substitution on the hour, replacing Welbeck and a very disappointing James Milner with Andy Carroll and Theo Walcott. Both were involved as England managed to unsettle Italy, only for Young's close-range effort to be deflected following work by Carroll. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli introduced Diamanti in an attempt to pierce England's stubborn resistance and he swiftly forced Hart into a smart save. The game continued to absorb into the closing seconds of normal time as Johnson produced a crucial block to stop Italian substitute Nocerino, while Rooney almost stole the win for England with an overhead kick at the other end. England made a quick change in extra time as Jordan Henderson replaced Scott Parker but Italy still held the initiative, with Diamanti's attempted cross bouncing of the upright to safety. Nocerino then had the ball in the net with a header as penalties loomed, but it was rightly ruled out for offside. So it went to penalties - and a familiar tale of woe as England were again the victims of this cruellest form of defeat.In the aftermath of another penalty shoot-out fiasco, Roy Hodgson defended Ashley Young and Ashley Cole. 'Anyone can miss a penalty. They were not nonchalant,' Hodgson said. 'Ashley Young's smashed against the bar and Ashley Cole's was well saved by Gianluigi Buffon.' He told BBC Sport: 'A player's reputation should not be forged on a penalty shoot-out, their reputation should be forged on the four games and in those four games we have not lost. We stuck to our guns right until the end and the players should be very proud of what they did. I have learned a lot about the players and their determination and dedication to the task and the fact they are so keen to play for England. There were some heroic performances not only tonight but also in the previous three games.' England keeper Joe Hart failed to save any of Italy's penalties, with the Azzurri's only failure coming when Riccardo Montolivo sent his effort wide. 'I went in confident we would win the game,' said Hart. 'I was required to step up and didn't make the saves. They were superior in regards to chances, but we were very resolute and gave everything when defending. I face penalties against Mario Balotelli on the training ground and I felt confident, but he took a good penalty. Of course I expect to make saves, I feel like no-one can beat me. We've lost at the end of the day, but I don't think anyone has let the country down and we have adapted well to the manager.' Hodgson had his players practising penalties in the build-up to the game and he had hoped they would be able to improve England's dire record in penalty shoot-outs. 'When we took it to penalties I was rather hoping it would be our tournament to win on penalties. Certainly the practising didn't help us too much on this occasion,' he said. 'Maybe it's just fated at the moment that we don't win on penalties but I really can't fault any of the players for their effort. At the end we had lots of players out there running on empty, with very tired legs, fighting off cramp, but they kept us in there until the end and when you go to penalties you do have a chance, but unfortunately Italy took the chance and not us. Penalties has become an obsession for us in English football and in training the players have done extremely well. But you can't reproduce the tired legs. You can't reproduce the pressure. You can't reproduce the nervous tension. [The Italians] stood up to it better than we did. Pirlo's [dinked] penalty was the perfect example.' England almost took the lead when an early Glen Johnson effort was saved by Buffon but they were on the backfoot for most of the game as Italy went close with several chances as well as hitting the woodwork twice. 'I thought the chances were there for both teams but as the second half went on we tired very badly and they came at us again and again,' said Hodgson. 'We have lost and we have gone out without losing a game with our heads held high.' England's next competitive game is a World Cup qualifier against Moldova on 7 September and, despite their Euro 2012 exit, Hodgson has been impressed by the qualities shown by his squad. 'I've been very happy with what I have seen from this group of players and how they have dealt with the demands of an England shirt,' he said. 'I do think we have got some very good young players coming through and this tournament has been very good for them.'
France midfielder Samir Nasri became involved in a row with a French journalist after his side's Euro 2012 quarter-final defeat by Spain. The clash occurred in the Donbass Arena after the Sheikh Yer Man City player was asked for his reaction to the result. Nasri reportedly called the journalist 'a son of a bitch' (or, you know, 'un fils de pute' since, presumably, he said it in French) and repeatedly complained about the media's behaviour. The twenty four-year-old, a substitute in the game, added: 'There, now you'll be able to say I've been badly brought up.' Two goals from Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso brought an end to France's campaign in Poland and Ukraine. Manager Laurent Blanc bemoaned the early goal his side conceded against a team he believed 'were there for the taking. The only thing I regret is that they scored off their first chance,' the forty six-year-old said.
'If we had gone in 0-0 at half-time, I think we would have had more room in the second half.' Blanc fielded two right-backs with Anthony Reveillere in the defensive position and Mathieu Debuchy pushed up into midfield to stem Spain's threat on their left flank, but his plan did not have the desired effect. First, Real Madrid midfielder Alonso headed the holders into a nineteenth-minute lead following some excellent work down that side by Valencia full-back Jordi Alba. Then a clumsy challenge from Reveillere in injury time allowed Alonso to score his second goal from the penalty spot. 'We had analysed the Spanish line-up well because they had two very strong players on the left but the most frustrating thing is that we conceded the goal from that side,' Blanc added. The addition of Reveillere at the expense of midfielder Nasri took much of the sting out of the French side's attack and their only shot on target came in the thirty second minute when Newcastle United's Yohan Cabaye saw his free-kick tipped over by Iker Casillas. 'I think the boys gave their all,' Blanc told TF1. 'Against Spain, it's hard. It is very difficult to create danger for them. They are so tough to beat - you have to be very clinical when you only get thirty to thirty five per cent of the possession.'Portugal legend Eusébio is in a stable condition after being taken to hospital complaining of feeling unwell. The seventy-year-old, who has been with the national side during Euro 2012 as a team ambassador, has a history of heart trouble and was taken to hospital in Poznan on Saturday. Hospital spokesman Stanislaw Rusek said: 'The news is good. Doctors are satisfied that his condition is stable. I talked to him and I asked him if his heart hurt. He said "not at all."' Eusébio, who was at Portugal's Euro 2012 quarter-final win over the Czech Republic on Thursday, underwent a heart operation five years ago and has been admitted to hospital three times since December.
He has been suffering from hypertension and his doctors have said he must have regular examinations. The former striker played for nine clubs during a twenty two-year professional career but is most remembered for his fifteen glorious years with Benfica and a goal-laden international career. Born in Mozambique in 1942 when it was still a Portuguese colony, Eusébio da Silva Ferreira went on to play sixty four times for Portugal, scoring forty one goals and winning the Golden Boot as top scorer at the 1966 World Cup. Nicknamed The Black Panther, he won ten league championships, five Portuguese cups and one European Cup in his fifteen years at Benfica and was Portugal's top league scorer between 1964 and 1973. A Portuguese Football Federation statement read: 'Eusébio felt unwell on Saturday when he was at the hotel with the team in Opalenica. After an initial observation and contacting his doctor in Lisbon, he moved as a precaution to a hospital.'
