England captain Steven Gerrard struggled to contain his disappointment after they crashed out of Euro 2012 on penalties.
Roy Hodgson's men rode their luck for large chunks of the quarter-final against Italy, who created numerous chances to win the game in both normal and extra-time.
However, Gerrard insisted they will leave Poland and Ukraine with their pride intact.
"We do but it still doesn't help with the heartbreak," he said. "You just feel for the players who since day one when we met up have given everything and today we did the same.
"I thought this time on a penalty shoot-out we would have got the luck that we need but it wasn't to be."
Proud
Riccardo Montolivo missed his spot-kick which put England ahead in the shoot-out, but failures from Ashley Young and Ashley Cole handed Italy back the initiative and they went on to win.
Gerrard added: "In a penalty shoot-out when you get your nose in front, you are praying that you see it out, but credit to Italy they are a fantastic team and they got the bit of luck in the shoot-out.
"The lads at the back were fantastic tonight and everyone has been great in training and every time we have come out we have done the country proud, but again we go home with heartbreak which is difficult to take."
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