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Hodgson preparing England for ‘dreaded’ penalty-shoot out ahead of Euro QF clash with Italy

Hodgson preparing England for ‘dreaded’ penalty-shoot out ahead of Euro QF clash with ItalyLondon, June 21  : England manager Roy Hodgson is preparing his Three Lions team for penalty a shoot-out ahead of quarter-final clash with Italy.

Having banished one banshee by surviving a goal-line controversy against Ukraine, Hodgson now faces up to another of England's demons with the chilling prospect of penalties against Italy in Sunday's Euro 2012 quarter-final in Kiev.

Hodgson claimed that he understood the national phobia of being placed on the spot.

"It's because we've lost important matches on penalties so it's going to be that way," The Telegraph quoted Hodgson, as saying.

"When you are working with the England national team, the past is always going to weigh heavily. Everything we do today is compared with something that happened in the past," he added.

Hodgson cited that its all about a player's "composure, confidence, ability to block everything out"

"Forget the occasion that means you score or you don't score. Sometimes we've seen the best players miss and the best players you think are not penalty-takers are the ones that smash them in," he said. (ANI)


Hulk determined to win over Brazil fans

Hulk determined to win over Brazil fansFortaleza (Brazil), June 19 - Brazil forward Hulk insists he is unaffected by jeers from the stands and has vowed to win over the hearts and minds of Brazilian supporters during the Confederations Cup.  Read more »

Spain retains UEFA Under-21 crown

UEFA-U-21Jerusalem, June 19 : Spain retained the 2013 UEFA U-21 soccer championship beating Italy 4-2 here at the Teddy Stadium.

Spanish captain Thiago Alcantara hit a hat-trick in the first half  Read more »

Sri Lankans will target Indian bowling: Jayasuriya

Sanath-JayasuriyaCardiff, June 19 : Former captain Sanath Jayasuriya said Sri Lanka will target the Indian bowlers during the Champions Trophy semifinal slated for Thursday at the Sophia Gardens here.  Read more »

Champions Tropny semifinals: England put South Africa in to bat

england-vs-south-africaLondon, June 19 : England opted to field against South Africa in the first semifinal of the Champions Trophy at the Kennington Oval here Wednesday.  Read more »

Mahindra's Locatelli takes double win at Misano

Andrea-LocatelliMisano (Italy), June 17 : Both Mahindra Racing riders Andrea Locatelli and Michael Rinaldi performed well in Rounds 5 and 6 of the CIV Moto3 which concluded at the Misano World Circuit here.  Read more »

Gill leads APRC field by 12 minutes

Gaurav-GillNoumea (New Caledonia), June 15 : Gaurav Gill (co-driver Glenn Macneall) took a commanding 12-minute lead for the MRF Tyres Rally team after Day 1 of the Rally of New Caledonia, the second round of the  Read more »