More shootout misery for England
Italian players
England suffered yet more heartbreak in a penalty shootout when they lost 4-2 to Italy after a goalless draw in their UEFA Euro 2012 quarterfinal in Kiev on Sunday night.
The Italians were deserved victors, being the better team throughout what was a tense and tactical 120 minutes – the first game of the tournament to end goalless and the first to go to the dreaded shootout.
Riccardo Montolivo was the first to miss a spot kick, but England’s Ashley Young and Ashley Cole both failed to convert theirs, allowing Alessandro Diamante to convert the decisive penalty and send the Azzurri through to the last four where they will face Germany.
In a match between two sides who have favoured a more pragmatic approach throughout the tournament, the final score line and resulting penalty shootout was no real surprise, though the game could just as easily have been a high-scoring one, such was the frequency with which scoring chances availed themselves – particularly for Cesare Prandelli’s team.
Italy very nearly opened the scoring in just the third minute of the match, with Daniele De Rossi sending a long range volley against the post. It was to be the first of many chances for the Azzurri, who dominated possession and forced England onto the back foot.
Not that the Three Lions didn’t have opportunities of their own – right-back Glen Johnson was presented with a clear shooting chance in the middle of the Italian penalty area, but his somewhat timid effort was kept out by Gianluigi Buffon.
Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck also presented threats of their own as England made some decent forays forward on the counter attack, using their pace and directness to good effect to occasionally ruffle usually serene Italian backline.
Mario Balotelli was constant menace to England’s defence, but his finishing left much to be desired. On several occasions in the first half, as well as in the opening minutes of the second stanza, the Manchester City forward found himself in good positions to score, but he was unable to get the better of his club teammate, goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Quite how Italy were unable to capitalise on at least one of their goal scoring chances only they will know, though England’s defence, as has been the case almost throughout Euro 2012, was disciplined, organised and more than willing to put bodies on the line.
Their reward was sending the game to extra time, and Italy again hit the woodwork in the first half of the extra 30 minutes – this time Alessandro Diamanti’s in-swinging cross passed through the penalty area untouched before glancing off the far post.
The Azzurri thought they had finally broken through five minutes from the end of extra time when Antonio Nocerino turned home a close-range header, but the Milan midfielder was correctly flagged offside.
The Italians were deserved victors, being the better team throughout what was a tense and tactical 120 minutes – the first game of the tournament to end goalless and the first to go to the dreaded shootout.
Riccardo Montolivo was the first to miss a spot kick, but England’s Ashley Young and Ashley Cole both failed to convert theirs, allowing Alessandro Diamante to convert the decisive penalty and send the Azzurri through to the last four where they will face Germany.
In a match between two sides who have favoured a more pragmatic approach throughout the tournament, the final score line and resulting penalty shootout was no real surprise, though the game could just as easily have been a high-scoring one, such was the frequency with which scoring chances availed themselves – particularly for Cesare Prandelli’s team.
Italy very nearly opened the scoring in just the third minute of the match, with Daniele De Rossi sending a long range volley against the post. It was to be the first of many chances for the Azzurri, who dominated possession and forced England onto the back foot.
Not that the Three Lions didn’t have opportunities of their own – right-back Glen Johnson was presented with a clear shooting chance in the middle of the Italian penalty area, but his somewhat timid effort was kept out by Gianluigi Buffon.
Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck also presented threats of their own as England made some decent forays forward on the counter attack, using their pace and directness to good effect to occasionally ruffle usually serene Italian backline.
Mario Balotelli was constant menace to England’s defence, but his finishing left much to be desired. On several occasions in the first half, as well as in the opening minutes of the second stanza, the Manchester City forward found himself in good positions to score, but he was unable to get the better of his club teammate, goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Quite how Italy were unable to capitalise on at least one of their goal scoring chances only they will know, though England’s defence, as has been the case almost throughout Euro 2012, was disciplined, organised and more than willing to put bodies on the line.
Their reward was sending the game to extra time, and Italy again hit the woodwork in the first half of the extra 30 minutes – this time Alessandro Diamanti’s in-swinging cross passed through the penalty area untouched before glancing off the far post.
The Azzurri thought they had finally broken through five minutes from the end of extra time when Antonio Nocerino turned home a close-range header, but the Milan midfielder was correctly flagged offside.
{message}