England crashed out of Euro 2012 as their penalty shoot-out misery continued against Italy in Kyiv setting up a semi-final date with Germany.

It's the sixth time the Three Lions have exited a major tournament in such fashion and the fourth time at the quarter final stage as Ashley Young and Ashley Cole missed the decisive spot-kicks after holding Cesare Prandelli's men over 120 minutes.

The Azzurri dominated much of the game and on the balance of play deserved to win in normal time squandering a host of chances with Daniele De Rossi setting the tone early on with a rasping drive from 25-yards that smacked off Joe Hart's right hand post.

Roy Hodgson's men were starved of possession in a frenetic opening but soon settled as Glen Johnson's scooped effort forcing Gianluigi Buffon into a smart save. Wayne Rooney then sent a diving header over the bar before John Terry bailed out his side with a last ditch challenge on Mario Balotelli after he beat the offside trap to latch onto Andrea Pirlo's lofted pass.

Balotelli then volleyed straight at Manchester City teammate Hart after being found by Riccardo Montolivo's disguised loop pass before a neat interchange between Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney saw the former screw wide from 18-yards. After the break Italy took over and should have been in front within four minutes as Claudio Marchisio found De Rossi four yards from goal but mis-hit his volley despite having time and space to take a touch.

Hart then palmed a De Rossi drive straight into the patch of Balotelli who was also denied by the keeper before Montolivio fired the second rebound over the bar. Pirlo continued to dictate from a deep lying midfield position as England struggled to get anywhere near the 35-year-old but it was substitute Alessandro Diamanti who came closest to breaking the deadlock clipping the post with a cross-cum-shot. Antonio Nocerino then thought he'd won it six minutes from time after heading into the roof of the net but was correctly denied hero status by the offside flag.

Extra time passed without incident as the inevitable penalty shoot out loomed for both teams. England looked to be on course for an unlikely victory after taking the lead after the first two rounds but Young rattled the bar before Cole's tame spot kick was saved by Buffon allowing Diamanti to strike the critical blow to send Italy into the semi finals.