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Rooney: We're all gutted - England striker feels players can hold their heads high after exit
Posted Monday, June 25, 2012 by Sky Sport

Rooney: We're all gutted - England striker feels players can hold their heads high after exit
Wayne Rooney: England striker says the players are gutted after losing to Italy at Euro 2012

Wayne Rooney revealed it is a 'horrible feeling' after England were knocked out of Euro 2012 by Italy in a penalty shoot-out.

Following a 0-0 draw in the quarter-final in Kiev, striker Rooney had put England 2-1 ahead in the shoot-out following Riccardo Montolivo's miss.

However, Ashley Young then struck the crossbar and Ashley Cole's penalty was saved by Gianluigi Buffon to hand Alessandro Diamanti the chance to convert the winning spot-kick.

England have now been knocked out of three of the last five European Championships on penalties after previously losing to Germany in 1996 and Portugal in 2004.

Rooney expressed the devastation in the England squad following the defeat and praised the endeavour of the players against Italy.

"It was a horrible way to go out," said Rooney.

"We are all gutted.

"It was a tough game and we all worked hard, so to lose on penalties is a horrible feeling for everyone."

England coach Roy Hodgson said after the game that his players should hold their heads high and it is a sentiment echoed by Rooney.

Rooney added: "We can hold our heads up high. There are a lot of young players in the squad and that will help them in next tournament."

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia