It all ends in tears again

England's youngsters were in tears after losing their European Championship semi-final to an 89th-minute equaliser followed by the all-too familiar penalty heartache.

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Leroy Lita celebrates England's goal in normal time

With players injured and another three knowing they would be suspended for the final, England battled their way to within sight of the final — at one point leading 3-1 in the shoot-out.

Pearce, who missed from the spot when England lost to West Germany in Italia 90, said: "It was an incredible evening. I told the players it was probably the proudest moment I've had in football.

"They are crestfallen. They gave their lot emotionally and physically. They've sweated blood for the country and it was not quite good enough."

Before the shoot-out, Leroy Lita gave England a first-half lead but Maceo Rigters levelled with a scissor-kick just before the 90 minutes were up.

Steven Taylor was injured in the build-up but Pearce said: "The game carried on, we've got no complaints. The Dutch scored a goal fair and square."

With Taylor limping on and Nedum Onuoha helped off with an injury, England held on during the extra 30 minutes.

West Ham star Mark Noble (right) was always in the thick of the action

Justin Hoyte, Nigel Reo- Coker, Matt Derbyshire and, crucially, Anton Ferdinand missed from the spot, while Scott Carson saved one Dutch effort, another hit the post and a third — which would have won the shootout — went over the bar.

There was drama with the scores level at 7-7. Taylor should have declared himself unfit to take a penalty at the end of extra time.

Having failed to do so, he had to take his turn. Holland coach Foppe De Haan contravened UEFA rules by entering the field of play to complain when Taylor was excused.

However, he forced the referee to reconsider; if he had not, and England had won the game, Holland could have forced a re-match.

Pearce said: "When their coach raised the point, I was going to agree with him. It's the fairest way of doing it. It was the right and proper way to do it. The only thing it did was enhance the magnitude of Steven Taylor."

Flying high: Lita's goal was not enough, however

Penalty woe - how England lost it

Ashley Young sends Boy Waterman the wrong way - ENGLAND 1 HOLLAND 0

Ryan Babel sends Scott Carson the wrong way - ENGLAND 1 HOLLAND 1

James Milner only just beats the Dutch keeper - ENGLAND 2 HOLLAND 1

Royston Drenthe hits the Carson's left post - ENGLAND 2 HOLLAND 1

Mark Noble fires past Waterman whose fingertips are not enough - ENGLAND 3 HOLLAND 1

Tim Janssen rolls the ball in - ENGLAND 3 HOLLAND 2

Waterman saves Justin Hoyte's weak effort - ENGLAND 3 HOLLAND 2

Roy Beerens calmly slots the ball past Carson - ENGLAND 3 HOLLAND 3

Matt Derbyshire sends Waterman the wrong way - ENGLAND 4 HOLLAND 3

Hedwinges Maduro sends Carson the wrong way - ENGLAND 4 HOLLAND 4

Anton Ferdinand beats Waterman - ENGLAND 5 HOLLAND 4

Carson is sent the wrong way by Daniel de Ridder - ENGLAND 5 HOLLAND 5

Carson fools his Dutch counterpart with a confident effort - ENGLAND 6 HOLLAND 5

Gianni Zuiverloon scores - ENGLAND 6 HOLLAND 6

Liam Rosenior thumps the ball past Waterman - ENGLAND 7 HOLLAND 6

Maceo Rigters strokes the ball past Carson - ENGLAND 7 HOLLAND 7

Nigel Reo-Coker's shot is saved by Waterman - ENGLAND 7 HOLLAND 7

Arnold Kruiswijk skies his shot over the bar - ENGLAND 7 HOLLAND 7

A limping Steven Taylor sends Waterman the wrong way - ENGLAND 8 HOLLAND 7

Waterman scuffs his shot but Carson dives the wrong way - ENGLAND 8 HOLLAND 8

Ashley Young fires confidently past Waterman - ENGLAND 9 HOLLAND 8

Beerens beats Carson who guesses correctly - ENGLAND 9 HOLLAND 9

James Milner sends Waterman the wrong way - ENGLAND 10 HOLLAND 9

Drenthe makes up for his earlier miss by thrashing the ball home - ENGLAND 10 HOLLAND 10

Waterman dives the right way but Nobel's shot goes under Waterman - ENGLAND 11 HOLLAND 10

Maduro rolls the ball in - ENGLAND 11 HOLLAND 11

Hoyte, who missed earlier, sends Waterman the wrong way - ENGLAND 12 HOLLAND 11

Janssen lifts the ball past Carson - ENGLAND 12 HOLLAND 12

Waterman makes his second save by blocking Derbyshire's shot - ENGLAND 12 HOLLAND 12

Carson saves from De Ridder - ENGLAND 12 HOLLAND 12

Ferdinand hits the bar - ENGLAND 12 HOLLAND 12

Carson dives the right way but Zuiverloon's beats him and England - ENGLAND 12 HOLLAND 13