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Now, it would just have to be Germany that stand before them, wouldn’t it? But as Friday demonstrated, maybe England are no longer snared by old familiar failings. And their opponents have not reached the final of this competition since 1982, when as West Germany they were beaten by England over two legs.

“I have to look at my players, they were great,” said Pearce. “Joe Hart made a great save and although we created a mountain of problems, hopefully we can now go on and win the trophy.”

Probable England team: Loach (Watford), Cranie (Portsmouth), Richards (Manchester City), Onuoha (Manchester City), Gibbs (Arsenal), Muamba (Bolton), Rodwell (Everton), Milner (Aston Villa), Cattermole (Wigan), Noble (West Ham), Walcott (Arsenal)

England's final reward after two years of practice

Stuart Pearce had suffered too much to ever leave things to chance again. After going out of three major championships as a player or coach he was taking no chances and two years of practice paid off in Friday’s penalty shootout as England booked a place in tomorrow’s Uefa Under21 final. The day before England’s 3-3 semi-final draw with Sweden, Pearce damned England’s past approach, citing managers who would simply ask: ‘“Who fancies it?” That ain’t an exact science, is it?'

That is why Pearce’s men had practised penalties in every training session for two years since losing a shootout to Holland in the 2007 semi-final. Pearce said he had a list ‘from one to 23’ of his best penalty takers – ‘the players will have no choice in the matter. That’s why you lose shootouts, when your captain feels obliged to step forward but he might be one of your worst. In contrast, your goalkeeper could be one of your best’

Pearce’s judgment was spot on. After James Milner missed England’s first kick, slipping as he connected, right, goalkeeper Joe Hart steadied the nerves with England’s second kick, driving the ball into the roof of the net. Sadly for Hart, his booking for trying to distract one of his opponents keeps him out of the final

PEARCE’S PENALTY ROLLERCOASTER

1990 World Cup SF West Germany 1 England 1 (England lose 4-3 on pens)

1996 European Ch’ship QF England 0 Spain 0 (England win 4-2 on pens)

1996 European Ch’ship SF England 1 Germany 1 (England lose 6-5 on pens)

2007 Uefa U-21 Ch’ship SF Holland 1 England 1 (England lose 13-12 on pens)