Source: Daily_Mail
Lion Hart: England keeper saves penalty, then scores one but will miss final
Joe Hart is the undisputed hero of Gothenburg - saving and scoring from the spot in a breathless European Under 21 Championship semi-final shootout with Sweden - but England's keeper will be banned from the final against Germany on Monday.
Hart was booked for talking to Swedish players before they took their penalty kicks. England went on to win the shootout 5-4 after the teams were locked at 3-3 following extra time. And although manager Stuart Pearce vowed to appeal against Hart's booking, the move looks destined to fail.
Shootout joy: Hart is mobbed after converting a penalty
Shootout joy: Hart is mobbed after converting a penalty and saving one to clinch a spot in the final for England ... but not for himself
It is his second yellow card of the tournament after being booked for time-wasting in the opener against Finland. Fraizer Campbell, sent off last night, and Gabriel Agbonlahor, who also collected his second booking of the event, will also be suspended from the final in Malmo.
'As soon as I got a yellow card I was determined to win it,' said Hart. 'I thought both my bookings were harsh but it's got nothing to do with what I think. Unfortunately, it's what the ref thinks and he thought to book me. I don't understand why.
Despair: Sweden's Guillermo Molins drops to his knees
Despair: Sweden's Guillermo Molins drops to his knees after missing his spot kick
'I didn't say a word. The referee told me not to so I didn't. I just tried to look at them. I just had a bit of fun but the ref didn't see it that way.'
Agbonlahor was also upset with Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir.
'I'm disappointed,' said the Aston Villa striker. 'It was the same ref who gave me the first yellow and they were both harsh.'
Angry Pearce had no doubts about asking Hart to take England's second penalty after James Milner missed the first. England won it when Sweden's Guillermo Molins hit a post. 'Joe Hart's one of the best penalty takers in our squad,' said Pearce.
'I've watched him for two years and I had the stats in front of me. That's why he took a penalty and that's why he put it away. We might well appeal against his booking. I'm not sure there's a rule that suggests you can't talk to the penalty taker.
'Two years ago we were up against a Dutch keeper who was on his sixyard box by the time we struck the penalty but nothing was said.'
England led 3-0 after 38 minutes but squandered the lead in the second half. They are now in their first Under 21 final since they were European champions in 1984.
'We've come to win that trophy and there's only one team standing in our way now,' said Pearce.
