And on that note, we bow out.

England have waited 28 long, largely barren years to play in a World Cup semi-final again. On Wednesday night they face Croatia for a place in the World Cup final.

Join us.

Peter Shilton
Former England goalkeeper

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Everyone just wanted to get home but we were all blown away really by the reception we got when landing at Luton airport. There were thousands of people there to welcome us and that's when it really hit home how well we had done.

We didn't win it but we went further than any other England team had done away from home and I'm very proud of that.

Then when I got back to my village in Leicestershire there were 40 or 50 people waiting to clap me out of my car. They had put flags up and all sorts. I couldn't believe it.

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England midfielder David Platt: "Penalties put a huge amount of pressure on individual players and everybody is disappointed for Stuart [Pearce] and Chris [Waddle], but we know it could have been any one of us. It's a terrible way to go out. You have played here for four weeks and suddenly in seconds it's all over. We had our dream taken away when we could see light at the end of the tunnel.

"I think we will look back in a few days' time with a lot of pride. At the moment there are 22 players, plus a great many staff, who are very disappointed. The supporters back home, the folks in the houses, people watching the game and who care about the game are probably as disappointed as we are. But life goes on. They have to get up to go to work tomorrow and so will we."

Peter Shilton
Former England goalkeeper

From my point of view, I wouldn't have put Chrissy Waddle as last penalty taker. Hand on heart, I would have preferred Peter Beardsley there and maybe have Waddle earlier when there's not quite so much pressure.

When he walked up to take his penalty I just didn't fancy him somehow. I know it's easy to say that in hindsight but he felt the pressure. Gazza would probably have been the man to take that one for us but his head was gone.

Thank you Des for reminding me that that was not actually Bobby Robson's final game in charge - there's the third/fourth place play-off to come.

The game nobody wants to play.

Joshua Pearce: With regards to Platt's offside, a player in the 1990 World Cup was considered offside if he was level with the penultimate defender. Hence a correct decision. It was subsequently changed after the World Cup, for the 1990/91 season onwards.

CLASS ACT

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England manager Bobby Robson: "It's a cruel situation but you have to accept it. We wish West Germany every success in the final, they are a good team.

"We matched them but it's over for us now, we have done well to get to the semis and can go home feeling very proud.

"When you get to the four best teams in the world there is not a big difference between them, all have tremendous fitness, tactical knowledge and technical ability, but it comes down to the ability of the one individual to break the deadlock. It was always close."

Peter Shilton
Former England goalkeeper

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I'll never forget that moment when Chrissy blasted it over the bar. My stomach just dropped, it was awful. That was it. I was devastated.

To make it worse myself and Stuart Pearce were both called in for a drugs test at the end of the tunnel, we never went back in to the dressing room with the lads, we only saw them about two hours later back in the hotel. By that time everyone was eating and it was like a morgue.

The last thing you want at the end of a penalty shootout is to be sat in a small room opposite two German lads for an hour. To be fair, they were good lads. They were obviously very pleased but they realised how we were feeling and didn't make too much of it.

Trevor Brooking
Former England midfielder at Stadio delle Alpi

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Words cannot express what the England players must be experiencing, over the 120 minutes before penalties they were the better side and looked sharper.

They didn't get the luck when they needed it and I am so disappointed and choked for them.

That was the final match in charge for Bobby Robson. He's shattered. Still hurts to this day doesn't it?

John Motson
BBC commentator at Stadio delle Alpi

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Bobby Robson's dream is shattered in the coldest way possible. His England career ends sadly on the precipice of a great achievement and with it the hopes and dreams of every Englishman.

Waddle belted his kick over the bar, and West Germany scored all four of their penalties. That is the sad and dramatic finish of England's World Cup adventure in Italy.

Ahhhhhh.

One day that Chris Waddle pen is going to go in.

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All over!

Ohhhhh nooooo!!!!!

Disaster for England. Pearce goes for power straight down the middle and Illgner saves with his legs.