THIS was no way for the English dream to end. They have done the game and their country proud in Euro 96, never more so than on this epic night. On and off the pitch they have come of age in a way that scarcely would have seemed credible, but once again the old bug bear undid them in a penalty shoot out. Sadly for the hosts then, shades of Turin and 1990 rather than 1966.

It's never the most satisfactory way to conclude a night's football, and never more so than last night. England's football was superior in almost every way, developing the modern game beyond the confines of a more limited German team. But there's no such thing as a bad German team. At least never one that rolls over, and has its belly tickled.

A compelling night's drama ebbed and flowed all night, England often outmanoeuvring the Germans, before both went for the jugular in an astonishing period of extra time. The dream over and this time the nightmares will be Gareth Southgate's, as they recall the 11th penalty of the shoot out which Andreas Kopke dived to save low to his right.

Andy Moller completed a perfect six for the Germans to preserve their remarkable record in these shoot-outs. They haven't lost one since 1976, in which time they've only missed one actual penalty. Cool as the proverbial cucumbers. Does nothing unnerve them?

Heartbroken the English players retained their dignity, Juergen Klinsmann amongst others consoling Southgate, while most of their supporters gave them a rapturous of the pitch before saluting the Germans on their way to the final. It was that kind of night a privilege to be there.

The pre match pageant was a litmus test of sorts for the English football supporters and with Europe watching, they passed it superbly. The music may have broken down for God Save Tide Queen but that didn't prevent the crowd and home players alike giving a full throated rendition. With none of the menace in the air of Dublin or other such occasions. Nothing dirge like about it at all.

Then, despite attempts to drown out Deutschland Uber Alles with whistles and boos, eventually a respectful silence and round of applause was afforded the visitors. Take it all back. Full credit to them. They had given their answer to the xenophobes amongst the tabloids in some style. Wembley was a night for sport, nothing else.

This was indicative of the friendly pre match mood, small knots of German fans intermingling peacefully with their more numerous counterparts. Attempts at drumming a blast from the past in "No Surrender" were hushed to silence by the majority on one tube. Football's Coming Home remained the favoured chant and on last night's evidence England is coming of age as well.

The feel good factor was everywhere on a heavy, balmy night. It and the game itself was given every encouragement to break free from the normal claustrophobia which accompanies semi finals with an English breakthrough after two minutes.

One of the most impressive aspects of England's performances is how Paul Ince, the holding midfielder has made such effective, use of his occasional sorties forward. From a partially cleared Stuart Pearce cross he controlled the ball and drove a dipping 20 yard volley which, typically, Andreas Zopke punched over to concede a needless corner.

Cue to another impressive aspect of England's blossoming performances this past two and a half weeks the best array of set pieces in the tournament. Paul Gascoigne's delivery to the near post saw Tony Adams rise comfortably, between Christian Ziege and Matthias Sammer, his flick on being converted when the incoming Alan Shearer stooped to score with a downward header.

However, as can often happen, the goal was almost too much too soon for an English side understandably fired up in any case by the country's biggest game in three decades. If Germany had been ridden with early nerves once more, that contrived to settle them. The Germans knew what they had to do and, cool as a rare breeze on the night,, they set ab9ut doing it.

Surprisingly, Berti Vogts had abandoned Germany's long established twin striker policy in the absence of Juergen KIinsmann. Stefan Kuntz was often an isolated lone striker on the left, with Andreas Moller enjoying a roaming role through the middle and the composed, skillful Mehmet. Scholl played in an advanced right side role.

Elsewhere they were the same as ever Dieter, Eilts manning, the midfield in his own outstandingly destructive way and stepping into the back whenever one of the back men stepped out. The greater threat was presumed to come from Sammer but, so adept are they all at doing it, that it was Thomas Helmer who made the vital incision for the 15th minute equaliser.

Stefan Reuter made inroads up the inside right channel and patiently, checked, before Helmer gave him an option up the inside left channel. Exchanging passes with, Andreas Moller, Helmer adroitly crossed low behind the English defence on the turn for Kuntz to slide in and score.

The force was temporarily with a more patient Germany who retained the ball better than a hurried England. Gradually though, Pearce, Gascoigne, Ince and co got a few heavy tackles out of their system and England settled.

Sheringham wheeling away again, was denied on the line by Renter when picked out by another well rehearsed corner, this one from Darren Anderton. Ince, Gascoigne, Platt and Anderton combined intuitively before the break and from the latter's cross Shearer was a whisker away with a 15 yard downward header.

That set the tone far the second half England were almost South American in the fluidity of their movement and elaborate, some times over elaborate passing a long the ground. The heavily depleted Germans were content to absorb pressure in numbers and strike on the break. They did become tetchy, bookings for Reuter and Moller ensuring this would be their last game of the tournament come what may.

Yet they held firm and held their shape as only they can, limiting England to a long range effort following one of several surging runs by Ince, one outstretched tackle by Helmer to deny Gascoigne after a one two with McManaman epitomising their resilience.

All changed with the onset of extra time, England remaining the aggressors but Germany coming out to play too as both looked for the Golden, Goal, unlike the Czechs earlier in the day.

It was cut and thrust from the outset. Within three minutes, Anderton twisted and stretched to meet a McManaman pull back, only to divert the ball against the upright, the ball rebounding into, the arms of a beaten and postrate Zopke. A minute on and Helmer's driven cross was almost converted by Kuntz.

Moller suddenly came alive, and the fresh legs of Thomas Hassler were full of running. Moller dummied Ince in the centre circle and extended Seaman from 30 yards before Kuntz was harshly adjudged to have pushed in heading home Moller's ensuing Back came England picking out Shearer volley back across goal scraped the extended boot of the incoming Gascoigne at the far post. Humble pie all round for those who predicted Gascoigne wouldn't finish a match he was nearly on the end of McManama cross moments later.

Into the second period and Eilts went forward, Ziege playing a one two with Moller before sliding the ball past the far post. Legs visibly buckled, none more so than McManaman's when unable to dredge up some power into his angled shot after a 40 yard run.

Into penalties then, and the cruel denouement for Southgate and England. He deserved better, and so did they.