Roy Hodgson has admitted that his England players were "running on empty" during their Euro 2012 quarter-final defeat to Italy.
The Three Lions were dumped out of a major competition on penalties yet again after the match in Kiev had finished goalless.
Hodgson said that he cannot fault his players and they can leave the tournament with their heads held high.
"When we took it to penalties I was hoping this was our tournament but the practising didn't help," Hodgson told BBC Sport. "I can't fault the players as a lot of them were running on empty at one point.
"Italy stood up to penalties better than us, Pirlo's being the example. I thought the chances were there for both teams but as the second half went on we tired very badly and they came at us again and again.
"I'd been watching Ashley Young and Ashley Cole smashing in penalties in training but you can't reproduce the tired legs, pressure and nervous tension. We have lost and we have gone out without losing a game with our heads held high."
Italy will now face Germany in the semi-final in Warsaw on Thursday.
Michael Penkman
