...On guess what

 

Penalties (No Surprises please)

 

Holl U21 1-1 Eng U21 (13-12 pens)

England exited the European Under-21 Championship after a dramatic penalty shoot-out semi-final defeat to Holland.

 

Anton Ferdinand's (Rio's brother, what a surprise) effort, which smacked against the bar, proved decisive as they lost 13-12 on spot-kicks.

 

Leroy Lita had put England ahead before half-time, holding off his marker before scoring with a left-foot shot.

 

Lita also hit the outside of the post with a free-kick but the Dutch equalised in the 89th minute when Ryan Donk headed across for Maceo Rigters.

 

England had looked to be on their way to the final for the first time since 1984 until Rigters' late effort.

 

But it was just the start of an astonishing end to a thrilling contest in Heerenveen.

 

England ultimately ended on the losing side, but they can be hugely proud of their efforts.

 

They ended extra-time with just nine fit players after coach Stuart Pearce had used his three substitutes, Nedum Onuoha was forced off and Steven Taylor played on despite barely being able to walk.

 

It was a weary England side that somehow managed to keep out the Dutch in the additional 30 minutes.

 

And they had chances to win the shoot-out before Ferdinand's second spot-kick - he scored with his first - hit the bar.

 

In between there were three misses from both sides, only for the opposition to fail to take advantage.

 

There was also the sight of a limping Taylor having to step up and take a penalty after protests from Dutch coach Foppe De Haan.

 

After Ferdinand's miss, Gianni Zuiverloon scored the winning spot-kick to send the Dutch through to the final.

 

It had all looked so promising shortly before half-time when Lita turned Ron Vlaar and lashed in a left-foot shot that Dutch keeper Boy Waterman got a hand to but could not keep out.

 

Lita was agonisingly close to doubling their lead when he thumped a swerving free-kick against the outside of the post early in the second half.

 

But the Dutch dominated the second 45 minutes and should have equalised when Carson parried Hedwiges Maduro's shot and Rigters fired the rebound into the ground.

 

The Dutch peppered the England goal in the last 10 minutes but Stuart Pearce's side looked to have held out.

 

However, the ball found Donk at the back post and with Taylor getting treatment off the pitch Rigters found space to score with an overhead kick from close range.

 

Ryan Babel nearly snatched victory in normal time when Carson could only watch his fizzing shot fly just over the bar.

 

With England having already used their three subs, Taylor was forced to play extra-time despite clearly struggling.

 

And when Onuoha went off it left them needing to see out the last 20 minutes with just nine fit men.

 

There was only likely to be one winner in the extra period, but England's weary defence held out bravely to brilliantly restrict their opponents' efforts on goal.

 

They showed more heart in the shoot-out, but yet again Pearce - who was part of the senior side that lost semi-finals on penalties at the 1990 World Cup and Euro 96 - saw his tournament hopes ended once again by the dreaded spot-kicks.

No Germany, France, Spain etc and only two groups. Not much of a competition really... makes it all the worse for not even getting to the final :dozey:

i still cant believe we lost it,we were two times better on the pitch

That's some crazy shoot-out. Can't help but feel sorry for the English, always with the penalties.

Euro 96, France 98, Euro 04 & Germany 06 out on penalties for the senior team.