England manager Roy Hodgson says his country’s penalty shootout curse struck once again as they bowed out of the 2012 Euros unbeaten in normal time but eliminated following a 4-2 spotkick loss to Italy in Sunday’s quarterfinal in Kiev.
The England-Italy encounter had ended goalless, although the Azzurri appeared the more likely to score throughout the 120 minutes, with Hodgson’s men pinned back and battling to retain possession.
However, England lost on penalties, even after Riccardo Montolivo had put his early spotkick wide. Ashley Young cannoned his penalty into the crossbar, before Gianluigi Buffon saved Ashley Cole’s tame spotkick.
Hodgson was left to rue another failed penalty shootout for England.
“Press conferences are never easy but they’re especially difficult after defeat. Tonight’s defeat after a penalty shoot-out is all the harder as we wanted to stay on and reward our fans,” Hodgson tol dreporters.
“We gave our all but weren’t quite good enough in the 120 minutes and when it went to penalties it went as it so often does for England.
“We go away unbeaten in normal time; but we go home because we can’t win on penalties.”
Hodgson added about the game: “Both teams created chances. I thought Italy played well but for long periods I thought it was an interesting tactical battle and for all their possession they didn’t often get behind us. Had we won it we wouldn’t have been apologising.”