http://tinyurl.com/3yr6gl We’re back home now after an epic night in Holland and I can look back on the whole experience with great pride. I’m on crutches, I’ve got a bit of ligament damage in my ankle, but I’ll be alright by the time pre-season training starts. We were so close yet again and I’ve had a lot of people saying that we'll learn a lot more from defeat. It’s a kick in the teeth and probably one of the lowest points in my career, but we put in a performance to be proud of, we battled and worked hard for each other and for me that’s the most important thing. It was probably the biggest game I’ve been involved in and we showed true team spirit. But the game went down to the lottery of the penalties in the end and it could have gone either way. It just wasn’t to be. It would have been amazing to get to the Final, we were so confident that we’d go all the way; to be crowned European Champions would have been amazing. I know we would have had a few injuries and suspensions if we had have beaten Holland, but I believe we had the players on the bench that were good enough to do what was necessary. Instead we came home disappointed, but it’s something to be proud of and we will take a lot of positives out of the tournament. Heerenveen on Wednesday was like a Final, it should have been. It was arguably the best game of the tournament with a superb atmosphere and the fans really got behind their team. Playing in that environment was a great experience and I think we thrived on that and it brought out some big performances. A few years down the line when these lads want to be in the seniors, they can say they’ve played in some big games against the odds and performed with distinction. I suffered exactly the same situation with the U17s five years ago. Leading against the hosts all the way, conceding a late equaliser and losing on penalties, but these are all learning opportunities and hopefully later in my career I’ll experience the other side and help England win a major honour. My game on Wednesday virtually ended when I got the injury before the end of normal time. Up to that point I was doing well and rarely felt troubled by them. It was a freak incident, I got my foot caught in the turf and I went over on it with their player on top of me. At the time I thought that was me finished, but I knew we used all our subs, so there was no way I was going off in the Semi-Final of the European Championship. I got it strapped up as tight as I could, and I could hardly move, but the adrenaline got me through the game. I had to try and stay with Ryan Babel, who played well, but he kept going deep or going wide and that’s what we were aiming for. Anything that came in the box we dealt with, so I never felt we were under the cosh. We defended very well. When it came to penalties and they missed I thought it was going to be our time. I was told I was going to be number ten and I never imagined it would go that far - I couldn’t move. When it got to number seven and eight I was thinking "I’m going to have to take one here". When it came to my go the fourth official was waving me off the pitch and as I went to walk off their manager came on to the field for some reason and called me a coward and a cheat. No one says that about me. Cheats don’t get up when they are injured because the opposition doesn’t kick the ball out of play. Cowards don’t take penalties in a Semi-Final in front of 26,000 opposing fans when they can hardly walk. I didn’t have a problem with taking one, but I was ordered off the pitch. There was no better feeling when that ball hit the back of the net. I wish Holland all the best in the Final, but I was disappointed with the manager’s comments and I’m happy I proved him wrong. For me now, I’ve got a few days in Newcastle and will see how things are with my ankle. On Sunday I’m heading out on holiday with David Nugent and a few mates to get some well deserved time off relaxing and enjoying the sunshine. But I’ll be back soon, and I’m looking forward to the new season with Newcastle and I hope I can help England achieve the success we deserve. Thanks for your support, England fans are the best in the world and show just how much they care about their football every time we play, whether at home or abroad. It’s truly appreciated. Have a good summer Steven Taylor. --------------------------------------------------------------------- De Haan 敢罵就最好就要敢承認，事後才說他沒罵？ 到底誰才是個 coward.....凸(￣▽￣) --

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