Alan Shearer hopes England's Euro 2012 quarter-final encounter against Italy on Sunday will not be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Shearer, who scored 30 goals in 63 appearances for England, found the net in all three of his shoot-outs - against Germany and Spain in Euro 96 and Argentina in the World Cup two years later.
The former Newcastle and Blackburn striker, however, believes the experience is a dreadful one. In his column in The Sun, he said: "I would not wish the experience of taking it on my worst enemy."
He added: "I used to be supremely confident in my ability to score from the spot. I took part in three shoot-outs, two in Euro '96 and one at France '98 - and scored in them all.
"Yet I can still remember how it felt in those seconds before. The walk from the centre circle to the penalty box is about 40 yards but it feels like four miles.
"Physically you feel the tension and your heart is going 100 times faster than normal.
"No matter how many times you've practised, nothing can replicate that moment."
There has been much talk amongst media and fans alike that England's fate will be decided by a shoot-out, with speculation mounting over who manager Roy Hodgson's first choice five takers would be.
And Shearer added: "I will feel for those players with the responsibility against Italy on Sunday - if it comes to it. But I'd tell them don't change your mind, be confident.
"It's all about taking control of the moment and not letting the moment take control of you."
Source: PA
