Out and about: England captain Steven Gerrard leaves the team hotel in Krakow on Wednesday

‘Classic example: was their (Ukraine’s) goal over the line? If it was, does it pay back something that happened four years ago or eight years ago?

‘That’s where we are and, unfortunately, we have lost two very important semi-finals on penalties, so I presume that’s going to be there during all my time as national coach and  probably, when a national coach comes 20 years hence, he will be asked the same question as well.’

Gary Neville spoke recently of the  benefit of now having a goalkeeper like Joe Hart; someone capable of making important penalty saves.

It might also be to Hodgson’s advantage that some of his players can draw on the positive experience of a 5-4 shootout victory over Sweden in the semi-finals of the European Under 21 Championship in Gothenburg in 2009. James Milner missed that day but Theo Walcott and Hart scored and the keeper saved one, too.

Credit has to go to Stuart Pearce for that. He drilled them every day on penalties during that tournament and Hodgson clearly agrees with such an approach.

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