http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Italy-c2926 on a penalty shoot-out, insisting that they have made the fans proud by putting up an impressive show over the course of the tournament.
The Three Lions, seconded by Cesare Prandelli’s team for a good portion of the match in terms of creating more goal scoring opportunities, managed to keep the Azzurri attackers from scoring for 120 minutes, but witnessed another shoot-out nightmare, as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alessandro-c4710
Diamanti fired home the final kick to send his country through into the semis.
The defeat was the first for the 64-year old as England manager, who took over the national duty last month.
Despite the fact that questions will be hurled yet again over the Three Lions inability to go the distance in major tournaments, Hodgson was quick on expressing his laudation for his team for putting up a gallant show in the competition despite being tagged
as one of the underdogs, and pointed out that their efforts were even acknowledged by a tumultuous and boisterous English crowd.
While talking to reporters he said: “The players really fought hard. The fans appreciated it, they were magnificent throughout, I have never seen such enormous support.”
The Englishman also quashed the innuendo that lack of shoot-out preparation led to the team’s demise, explaining that both Ashley Young and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ashley-Cole-c6809, who failed to convert from their spot kicks, consistently scored from the penalties during the training.
He opined that fatigue and nerve-whacking pressure got the better of them, and that the Azzurri were able to cope with the strain better.
Italy cannoned a staggering 35 shots at the English goal as compared to just 9 from their opponents, and boosted 64 percent of possession during the course of the game.
However, Hodgson felt that both the teams had their share of chances and revealed that for him, a goal late on in extra time would have been less cruel to their shoot-out defeat.
He added, “We started to tire badly and we couldn't manage it. If we had conceded at the end of 90 minutes or in extra-time it would have been less cruel. But I think we can go out with our head held high.”
Tags: