Only the nasty statistic survives. Only that and the nagging sense of disappointment that follows whenever England lose in this manner to opposition of the quality of Italy.

Going out on penalties is always painful and for Ashley Young and Ashley Cole, the two England players who missed on this occasion, the European Championship ends in crushing circumstances. It also once again highlights the mental fragility of English players when it comes to the cruel lottery of spot-kicks.

But if Roy Hodgson ever believed his players were about to erase that record he spoke of and become the first England team to beat a major footballing nation on foreign soil in the knockout stages of a tournament, he would have done so knowing it would not have been deserved.

« Previous1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435Next »