Rooney 'gutted' after losing another penalty shootout

The striker feels that the manner of the defeat will be a hard pill to swallow but backs the younger players to use this experience to their advantage in future tournaments.

Following an uninspiring 120 minutes from Roy Hodgson’s charges, it again came down to the ‘lottery’ of spot kicks, with the Three Lions’ record being extended to six defeats in seven attempts following Alessandro Diamanti's decisive last penalty.

Rooney, who converted his own spot kick, could not hide his disappointment, and feels that the way his team lost will be the most difficult part to stomach.

"It was a horrible way to go out. We are all gutted. It was a tough game and we all worked hard. To lose on pens is a horrible feeling for everyone,” the striker told reporters.

Rooney refused to be too deflated though, and feels that the experience of this tournament will serve to put the youngsters in the squad in good stead for the upcoming 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

"We can hold our heads up high, there are a lot of young players in the squad and that will help them in the next tournament," he said.

Beckenbauer: Germany does not have to fear anyone

Der Kaiser has nothing but praise for Die Mannschaft, following their good performances so far at the tournament, and feels they should not be afraid of any opponent

Franz Beckenbauer has voiced his opinion that Germany has the quality to beat any team at the European Championship.

The Nationalelf impressed with a 4-2 victory over Greece in the quarterfinals, and has now won 15 competitive games in a row as it has set its sights on lifting the Euro 2012 trophy.

"I can hardly see any weak links in the German team. When you've won all your competitive games since the semi-final at the 2010 World Cup, you don't have to fear any opponent," Beckenbauer was quoted as saying by Bild.

"Germany were overwhelming against the Greeks, and could have been 4-0 up at half-time. Their performance was a clear signal towards their rivals for the European title.

"Next up will now be either England or Italy. Although Italy have been our nemesis at big tournaments and defeated us at the 2006 World Cup, things will be different this time around. It doesn't really matter who our next opponents are."

Germany's semifinal against one of England or Italy takes place in Warsaw on June 28.

Real Madrid's Casillas: I have never seen anyone play at the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo

The highly-rated custodian was lost for words to describe the Portuguese ace, while stating that the criticism targeted at Chelsea striker Fernando Torres is 'unfair'

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has heaped praise on teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, stating that the Portuguese attacker is the best player he has seen.

The 27-year-old attacker broke the world record transfer fee in 2009, when he joined Madrid from Manchester United in a 94 million euro deal.

He has, however, proved value for money at the Santiago Bernabeu, with his double against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday taking his tally to 128 goals in just as many appearances for Los Blancos.

"I have never seen anyone else play at his level," Casillas is quoted by Marca as saying. "His stats are incredible. The truth is that I never thought that they would be this impressive this soon and that he would take such a big role in the team. He has surpassed the likes of Brazilian Ronaldo and let's hope that he will not be at this level at the European Championships if he plays against Spain."

Questioned about Friday's Champions League draw, the 30-year-old custodian admitted that he is not worried about the prospect of Madrid being drawn with Barcelona in the quarterfinals.

"We were not ready to play four Madrid-Barca games last season and perhaps it had an impact on the Spain national team," Casillas said. "We were lucky that there was not a World Cup or a Euro last year, but we are friends and all is forgiven when we sit down and have a Coke together. Apart from the interests of our respective clubs, we have a country behind us and what better joy than to give this country another Euro trophy?"

Casillas then came out in defense of under-fire striker Fernando Torres, who was left out of Spain's squad for February's friendly against Venezuela as a result of his poor moment of form at Chelsea.

"People forget quickly about all the important things he has done for the national team," he noted. "People are unfair with him, he has earned the right to be trusted more."

The Madrid captain went on to reveal that he hopes to be fit to make Spain's squad at Euro 2016 as he is not thinking about hanging up his gloves.

"From my perspective, it is clear that this will not be my last Euro tournament, unless the coach does not count on me," Casillas explained. "A goalkeeper can play at a top level for more years, but perhaps two more Euros will be complicated."

Cristiano Ronaldo unfazed by pressures of international football

The Real Madrid forward decides to act like a "bigger man" and ignore what people and the media say about him, and thinks the Seleccao can now go all the way in Euro 2012

Portugal attacker Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that he is not concerned by the pressure to perform for the national team ahead of his country’s semifinal showdown with Spain.

The Real Madrid man has acknowledged that criticism is part and parcel of being a successful footballer, but he simply acts the “bigger man” and ignores any negative press.

After coming under sustained pressure from the media in his homeland following two below-par performances his output improved, but he says it is his own standards, and not those of others, that drive him to success.

"The bigger star you become, the greater pressure there is on you to perform at a level acceptable to other people let alone yourself," he told reporters. "Even Messi has his critics. You can't please everyone. But I don't get angry or frustrated by it. I accept its part of being a professional footballer, it comes with the territory. It takes a bigger man to ignore it and just get on with playing. I don't have an agenda where I set out to appease critics. I just go out and play to the best of my ability."

After a slow start to the tournament, Ronaldo has come in to blistering form and now believes that Portugal can go on and reach the final.

He praised the unity within Paulo Bento's squad, and said that their spirit has helped them to get through a tough group and on to the semifinals.

"We're improving and that's important," he said. "There is great unity in our squad, we've a good team spirit and that helps. It's been difficult to get this far, but we reach this stage with a great deal of optimism no matter who we face in the semifinal.

"Our objective now is to reach the final. Why not? There's greater pressure on other sides in this tournament and we've been able to progress without excessive expectations. No matter what happens now we should all be congratulated."

Totti: England difficult but beatable

The veteran Roma forward is wary of the threat posed by Roy Hodgson's men, but he has been impressed by what he has seen so far from the Azzurri

Francesco Totti believes that England will prove a "difficult" obstacle for Italy to overcome in Kiev on Sunday night, but the World Cup winner is confident that the Azzurri can progress to the semifinals of Euro 2012.

The Roma captain feels that Cesare Prandelli's troops deserve credit for emerging from a group containing Spain, Croatia and the Republic of Ireland, but is well aware that the going is about to get much tougher for the Nazionale.

"Italy has had a good Euros up until now," Totti told Sky Sport Italia. "It was important to get through the first round. But the knockout phase begins now and the match against England will be difficult, but Italy can do well."

Totti was speaking over the phone from Sardinia, where he is currently on holiday. However, the trequartista explained that he has been keeping himself in shape because he knows that he is in for a punishing pre-season with the Giallorossi's new coach, Zdenek Zeman, who has returned for a second spell at the Stadio Olimpico.

"Now it is all beginning again, and the training will be tough," Totti mused. "Fortunately, I know Zeman well and I know what I'm in for. So, I try to get myself ready for the start of pre-season."

Totti was capped 58 times by Italy before deciding to retire from international football after the 2006 World Cup triumph in Germany.

Messi: Barcelona made my dream come true

The Argentina star revealed that his only wish as a little boy was to become a professional player and said he will forever be grateful to the Blaugrana for making it happen

Lionel Messi has credited Barcelona for helping him realize his "dream" of becoming a professional football player.

The Argentina international joined Barca at the age of 13 and has won the Ballon d'Or three times since making his debut in 2004.

Messi says that he always dreamt of playing football at the highest level and spoke of Barcelona's importance in making that happen.

"Since I was three or four years old, I dreamt of becoming a footballer," he told Caracol TV. "I was walking around with a football and all I wanted was to play. My only thought was to become a footballer, I did not think about doing anything else. If I could not have become one, I actually do not know what I would be today.

"I do not know what Barcelona saw in me, but I will always be grateful to them for what they did and what they keep doing. At that time, I was on a very expensive medical treatment and they covered all the costs and gave me the opportunity to play.

"This was something very beautiful, because they allowed me to realize my dream."

Messi then advised young players to not drop out of school and revealed the advice that his parents used to give him when he was a child.

"When I was a kid, I did not like to study much and they insisted that I kept studying because it was important," the Argentine explained. "Now, I see that they were right, that it is good that one has studied. You never know what could happen in football.

"Every kid dreams of playing in the Primera Division, but not everyone can make it, so studying could be very important."