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ENGLAND AGAIN FEELS STING OF PENALTY KICKS

 
Published June 25, 2012

SOCCER

KIEV, Ukraine - Alessandro Diamanti scored the decisive penalty kick to send Italy to the European Championship semifinals with a 4-2 edge in kicks after a 0-0 tie with England, which now has six losses in its past seven tournament shootouts.

Ashley Young hit the crossbar with England's third kick, and Ashley Cole's attempt was saved by Gianluigi Buffon.

"We deserved this victory," said Diamanti, whose team plays Germany on Thursday. "The penalties rewarded our dominance during the match."

For England, it was yet another exit from a major tournament in the quarterfinals after a penalty shootout. England lost to Portugal in the same manner in Euro 2004 and in the 2006 World Cup.

"We have done the country proud but again we go home with heartbreak, and it's difficult to take," captain Steven Gerrard said.

"It's obviously a hard way to go out," striker Wayne Rooney said. "And it's maybe happened too many times now."

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BOXING

Fill-in Lopez breaks Ortiz's jaw in upset

Josesito Lopez was trailing on all three scorecards when he tagged the heavier, stronger Victor Ortiz in his open mouth in the ninth round late Saturday in Los Angeles.

The blow broke Ortiz's jaw and he agreed with his corner to quit, an upset that will cost Ortiz a shot at superwelterweight champ Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

"I have a big heart; Victor has no heart," said Lopez (30-4, 18 knockouts), who was called in last month after Andre Berto tested positive for a steroid.

"Josesito busted my jaw. ... I couldn't close my mouth," said Ortiz (29-4-2), who was taken to a hospital because of excessive bleeding in the mouth.

"Ortiz is out," Golden Boy promotions chief Richard Schaefer told the Los Angeles Times about the Alvarez fight.

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NBA

Thunder not after Jackson, Gundy

GM Sam Presti dismissed reports that 11-time NBA champion Phil Jackson or former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy could be the next coach of the Thunder, saying an extension with Scott Brooks is a top priority. "To me, it's rubbish," Presti said of the ESPN report. Brooks' deal runs out at the end of the month.

FREE AGENCY: Point guard Deron Williams, 28 and considered a top free agent, has narrowed his list of teams to his current one, the Nets, or the Mavericks, ESPN.com reported. Free agency begins July 1.

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ET CETERA

NFL: Former Saints linebacker Scott Fujita, a union leader with a record of criticizing the NFL's player-safety record, sees elements of a "smear campaign" in a bounty investigation that has sullied his reputation. Commissioner Roger Goodell could rule on the appeals of Fujita and the three players suspended in the bounty program as early as today. ... Santa Clara County stunned the 49ers and Santa Clara city leaders by pulling $30 million in tax funds from the new stadium. County officials said they would rather spend the money on teachers.

OBITUARY: Ralph Wenzel, a lineman with the Steelers and Chargers whose early onset dementia helped draw attention to NFL player safety, died last Monday in Annapolis, Md. He was 69. Mr. Wenzel's wife, Eleanor Perfetto, said the cause as complications of dementia.

WNBA: Angel McCoughtry scored 23 as Atlanta beat host New York 74-64.