England’s appeal against Joe Hart’s suspension from the European Under-21 Championship final will fall on stony ground, Uefa confirmed last night.

However, the goalkeeper said that he has “no mixed emotions” after scoring the penalty that helped to set Stuart Pearce’s team on their way to the shoot-out triumph, booking their place in Monday’s final. “I’m just glad I could do my bit to get the lads through,” he said.

Hart, who joins Birmingham City on loan from Manchester City for next season, played a leading role as England’s secret weapon in stepping up to convert his spot-kick immediately after saving from Marcus Berg.

“There was no need to know until today,” Hart said. “I was pretty confident I would be taking one and then I was told today I was in the top five, so I was happy to do that. We’ve practised penalties a lot and I haven’t really missed, so even if I wasn’t put forward, I would have put myself forward. I’m confident I can score from 12 yards.”

Hart’s elation was undermined, however, when Cüneyt Çakir, the Turkish referee who also sent off Fraizer Campbell and booked Gabriel Agbonlahor, produced a yellow card for gamesmanship that leaves England without three suspended players for the final against Germany. “I’m over the moon the lads are through,” Hart said. “We didn’t make it easy but, down to ten men, we showed a lot of character and won the game.”

Hart received his first caution of the tournament for time-wasting deep into stoppage time of the opening group game against Finland last week.

Last night he fulfilled the referee’s demand not to talk to opposing players during the shoot-out, but was deemed guilty of ungentlemanly conduct for shadow boxing as Mikael Lustig stepped up to take Sweden’s fourth penalty. “I thought both the bookings were harsh,” he said. “But unfortunately, it’s what the ref thinks.”

Scott Loach, the Watford goalkeeper, and Joe Lewis, of Peterborough United, will compete for the right to start in Monday’s final. “Whoever plays in my place will do the lads proud,” Hart said. “I’m sure they will shine.” The FA confirmed that it would appeal against Hart’s yellow card, but a Uefa spokesman said: “A team is entitled to make an appeal with 24 hours and the disciplinary committee will then convene to consider it. However, it is quite clear within our regulations that the only way a yellow or a red card will be altered is in the case of mistaken identity.”

Pearce immediately set about keeping his players’ feet on the ground. “The suspensions are disappointing, but I said at the start it would take 23 to win the trophy,” the head coach said. “This is only a semi- final. The game on Monday is the one.

“We should have put the game to bed. Too many had an eye on the final and wanted to let others do their work for them. I was disappointed the manner that we chucked away the lead.

“We have come to win it and we have one team standing in our way. It is now down to who has the guts to win it.”