Dutch in final after beating England on penalties
Pearce again foiled by shoot-out
The Netherlands reached their second consecutive European Under-21 final yesterday after knocking out England 13-12 on penalties in Heerenveen.
The teams were level at 1-1 after a goalless period of extra time sending the semi-final into a shoot-out that the hosts won thanks to defender Gianni Zuiverloon's confident strike.
Dutch goalkeeper Boy Waterman made three fine penalty saves before England's Anton Ferdinand hit the top of the bar with his spot kick leaving Zuiverloon to clinch a place in the final.
England had taken the lead in the 39th minute when Leroy Lita scored his third goal of the tournament.
Set up by fellow striker David Nugent, Lita rounded the Dutch defence to drive the ball past Waterman at the keeper's near post.
But the U-21 title holders put England under constant pressure in the second half and equalised in the 89th minute when Maceo Rigters scored his third goal of the tournament with an overhead kick from Ryan Donk's header back across the area.
It was a weary England side that somehow managed to keep out the Dutch in the additional 30 minutes.
And they had chances to win the shoot-out before Ferdinand's second spot-kick - he scored with his first - was stopped by the woodwork.
The Dutch had peppered the England goal in the last 10 minutes of normal time but Stuart Pearce's side looked to have held out until Rigters found space to make it 1-1.
There was only one likely winner in extra time, but England held out to restrict their opponents' efforts on goal.
They showed more heart in the shoot-out, but yet again Pearce - who was part of the senior side that lost semi-finals on penalties at the 1990 World Cup and Euro 96 - saw his tournament hopes ended by the dreaded spot-kicks.
Other semi-final: Serbia vs Belgium 2-0.