England suffered yet more penalty shootout heartache at the hands of Italy in the European Championships, as the Under-17s fell to the Azzurri in Thusday's quarter-final tie.
Three years on from the seniors' dejection at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final, England's Under-17s lost 5-4 on spot kicks to Italy's Under-17s after a 1-1 draw in Larnaca.
Ryan Garry's side needed just 16 minutes to draw first blood thanks to a goal made in North London, as Tottenham Hotspur's Mikey Moore laid off Ethan Nwaneri after a mazy run, and the Arsenal starlet did the rest with a fine finish into the top corner.
However, the Three Lions only held their advantage for a mere 13 minutes, as Italy's Mattia Liberali bettered Nwaneri's strike with a scintillating solo goal, somehow keeping hold of the ball amid a swarm of white shirts before firing into the bottom corner.
England's profligacy cost them dear in the second half, and with no extra-time in play, the quarter-final went straight to spot kicks, where Moore and Giovanni Lauricella both got their nations off to a perfect start.
Chelsea's Ollie Harrison stepped up for England's second spot kick, but Alessandro Longoni guessed correctly and denied the 16-year-old, whose teammates Nwaneri, Harry Amass and Baylee Dipepa at least converted their efforts.
Italy remained perfect from 12 yards, though, and one final penalty from AC Milan starlet Francesco Camarda sailed past Oliver Whatmuff to book Italy a semi-final date with Denmark on June 2.
Ben Knapton
