EURO 2012/ ENGLAND, Hodgson: "We tried our best"

© foto di Daniele Buffa/Image Sport

England's manager Roy Hodgson, has spoken after the match lost against Italy, in Euro 2012 cup.

"We tried our best. We worked as hard as we could. We survived physical problems – Scott Parker with his Achilles and Steven Gerrard with cramp – but whether we did enough to go through is a matter of opinion. There was never a question of playing for penalties.

Our defending was resolute and we did very well, particularly in the second half of extra time to hold out but we couldn't capitalise in the shoot-out. Penalty taking has become something of an obsession for English football but while you can practise you can't reproduce the atmosphere and tension. The cool, collected way Andrea Pirlo took his penalty – you can't coach that.

Both teams created chances. I thought Italy played well but for long periods I thought it was an interesting tactical battle and for all their possession they didn't often get behind us. Had we won it we wouldn't have been apologising.

Press conferences are never easy but they're especially difficult after defeat. Tonight's defeat after a penalty shoot-out is all the harder as we wanted to stay on and reward our fans. We gave our all but weren't quite good enough in the 120 minutes and when it went to penalties it went as it so often does for England. We go away unbeaten in normal time; but we go home because we can't win on penalties".