England Under-21s tumbled out of the European Championships after losing a dramatic penalty shoot-out 13-12 to Holland following a 1-1 draw.

Leeroy Lita had put Stuart Pearce's youngsters ahead in Heerenveen but Maceo Rigters levelled with a controversial overhead kick with a minute remaining to set up extra-time and penalties.

In a clinical shoot-out, players had to take penalties twice and Anton Ferdinand's miss ultimately allowed the holders and hosts to win a 32-kick contest 13-12.

Pearce lost twice as a player in the last four, both on penalties, and this defeat as a coach was every bit as dramatic.

West Ham pair Nigel Reo-Coker and Mark Noble picked up their second yellow cards of the tournament and endured extra-time knowing they would miss the final. James Milner also picked up his second of the competition during the extra 30 minutes.

With Nedum Onuoha unable to carry on, Steven Taylor limping and four games in a week taking their toll on the rest of the players, England's 10 men summoned every last piece of energy they had to get through the 120 minutes in the Heerenveen sunshine.

At senior level, England's tournaments have often been undermined by searing heat during the summer months, so the Under-21s' approach at Abe Lenstra Stadion was more considered.

Lita fizzed around chasing defenders but it was not the all-out Premier League-style Pearce's side had adopted earlier in the tournament.

Among the sea of orange was Steve McClaren, looking on as England's youngsters attempted to lift the trophy they last won in 1984, the year the eldest members of the current squad were born.

Home supporters roared when crowd-favourite Royston Drenthe touched the ball early on, and a cross from the dreadlocked midfielder almost fell for Rigters, with Leighton Baines clearing just in time.

Holland defender Gianni Zuiverloon had the first shot on goal but his volley, after exchanging passes with Daniel De Ridder, dipped over the crossbar.

In fact, Holland's first-half efforts were from long-range distance. De Ridder had a shot himself midway through the first half after Baines had lost the ball, with goalkeeper Scott Carson seeing the ball screw wide.

Ryan Babel, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal, had a couple of efforts which did not test Carson.

Lita's goal came six minutes from the break. In the country of total football, Lita's strike was total route-one.

Carson's long kick was flicked on by David Nugent and Lita spun around Ron Vlaar and volleyed in at the near post, sparking the crazed celebrations just like his first two goals of the tournament.

After missing a penalty and an open goal at the start of the competition, Lita's strikes have taken him to the top of the goalscoring charts.

He could have extended his tally early in the second half but his free-kick struck the post. Vlaar was given a caution for flattening Ashley Young to set up the chance.

In slightly cooler conditions, it became a case of stifling the hosts. Carson beat away a long-range effort from Hedwiges Maduro, with Taylor blocking the follow-up effort from Rigters.

The home fans were urging their side forward but England remained a threat on the counter-attack.

Coach Foppe De Haan took off skipper Vlaar, who headed down the tunnel, and Roy Beerens was brought on for an attacking threat for the last quarter of normal time.

Bookings for Noble and Reo-Coker meant the Hammers pair would miss the final, but a late surge by Holland meant they were required for extra-time.

The equaliser came from Beerens' cross getting headed across the face of the goal by Ryan Donk, with Rigters steering the ball in with his scissor kick.

Taylor was limping badly but had to continue as Pearce had used his substitutes. Onuoha picked up a knock and had to leave the field, meaning England were a man down - but they managed to get to penalties.

Reo-Coker, Justin Hoyte and Matt Derbyshire missed for England, with Drenthe, Arnold Kruiswijk and De Ridder failing for Holland.

But Ferdinand's miss proved most costly, with Gianni Zuiverloon netting his second spot-kick of the shoot-out to win it for the Dutch.

Source: Teamtalk

Serbia beat Belgium 2-0 on Wednesday night to make sure of their place in the final of the European Under-21 Championships.

The Serbians - beaten by England on Sunday - bounced back to set up a final clash against Holland on Saturday.

Aleksandar Kolarov gave them an early lead when his long-range free-kick evaded everyone - including Belgium goalkeeper Logan Bailly - and went in off a post.

And 77th-minute substitute Dragan Mrdja made sure of the victory three minutes from time when he beat Bailly with a low shot.

Source: Teamtalk