Foiled: Ashley Young blasts his spot-kick against the cross-bar

‘Italy stood up to penalties better than us. But we’ve seen Ashley Cole convert in a Champions League final and Ashley Young at Watford and Manchester United. We have five very good penalty takers. Unfortunately two missed.’

Theo Walcott also backed Young and Cole, saying: ‘The two Ashleys are two of the most experienced players in that dressing room and they will bounce back. I do not worry about that at all.’

Few can quibble with Italy’s right to play Germany in Thursday’s semi-final in Warsaw. They hit the post twice and Antonio Nocerino had a late goal disallowed for offside before West Ham reject Alessandro Diamanti converted the decisive penalty.

Pirlo was majestic throughout and took a wonderful spot-kick, chipped over Joe Hart when Italy were trailing after a miss by Riccardo Montolivo.

‘Italy played well,’ said Hodgson. ‘I won’t begrudge them the victory but for long periods it was a tactical battle and a relatively even game. They didn’t get behind us on many occasions.

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