Will it go to penalties? Players keep fans waiting for a score as repeated shots at goal miss the mark

Will it go to penalties? Players keep fans waiting for a score as repeated shots at goal miss the mark

• Crucial game packed full of dramatic chances for both sides, leaving fans' nerves shredded
  
• England goalkeeper Joe Hart forced to make a series of excellent saves to prevent Italy from scoring
  
• Captain Steven Gerrard vows to end penalty 'hoodoo'
• Italian newspaper claims its WAGs are 'more beautiful and famous'

By Russell Myers and Anthony Bond

PUBLISHED: 16:59 EST, 23 June 2012 | UPDATED: 15:39 EST, 24 June 2012

Millions of England fans up and down the country are on the edge of their seats tonight with the Euro 2012 quarter-final match with Italy packed full of unbearable drama.

Despite the match being 0-0, both sides have had a string of chances and will feel unlucky not to have scored.

The exciting game has resulted in tense scenes in pubs and homes throughout the country, as well as among fans inside Kiev's Olympic Stadium.

Vocal: Fans inside the Olympic Stadium in Kiev react as the team come onto the pitch

Exciting: The game was packed with drama in the opening few minutes with the Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, right, saving a shot from England's Glen Johnson

Ready for action: Millions of England fans up and down the country are glued to their TV screens after the crucial Euro 2012 quarter-final match with Italy kicked off. The team is pictured ahead of kick-off

Boisterous: England fans are pictured enjoying the game at a pub in London

Unbearable: Two female fans watch the exciting first half at the Sports Bar in the Empire Casino at Leicester Square, London

The match has continued how it started, with players from both sides missing good chances.

Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was forced to make a dramatic save early-on from England's Glen Johnson.

And Italy have also had a host of chances, resulting in brave defending from England and some superb goalkeeping from Joe Hart.

More than 10,000 England fans spent the day pouring into Kiev ahead of tonight's crucial game with millions more at home hosting parties for the match.

Nervy: Two young fans watch the exciting game on a big screen which has been erected in Newcastle City Centre's Grey Street

Hard to watch: The exciting game is too much for one fan in Newcastle

Hoping: Fans watching the game in Milennium Square, Leeds, see England miss another chance to score

Difficult: These fans in Leeds find the game hard to watch

Supermarkets up and down the country have been emptied of alcohol as fans prepare to either celebrate victory or drown their sorrows in defeat.

Before the game, fans flocked in their droves to one Tesco store in Bristol, with its normally packed shelves completely emptied of beers.

Others have paid hundreds of pounds for last-minute flights, match tickets and accommodation to be among the 6,000 Three Lions supporters inside the Olympic Stadium.

Painful: As both sides miss glorious opportunities to score, these fans at the Clifton Wine Bar in Bristol can only scream as the tension rises

Lively: England fans watch the game at the Camp and Furnace pub in Liverpool

A large number of supporters are spending the hours before kick-off in the Kiev fan zone at Independence Square, drinking beer and singing songs in the glorious sunshine.

A contingent of British police officers - who conducted a joint patrol with their Italian colleagues - praised the behaviour of England supporters throughout the tournament.

Back home around 20 million people will watch the drama unfold on television, as England bid to secure a semi-final clash with Germany in Poland.

Unhappy: Wayne Rooney looks glum after missing a chance on goal

Support: England fans hold a flag showing head coach Roy Hodgson

Nervous: England manager Roy Hodgson looks on prior to the game

Friends: England goalkeeper Joe Hart, left, greets his Manchester City colleague and Italian striker Mario Balotelli before the match

Fun: Kimberley Crewe, the girlfriend of England goalkeeper Joe Hart enjoys the build-up to the game with family members

Happy: This England fan has showed his support for the team by painting his face

Avid England fan Chris Smith, 49, was going to avoid the tournament after the dismal World Cup display two years ago.

But the attitude of Roy Hodgson's side in the group matches persuaded him to spend £600 on a trip to support the team.

'I wasn't going to come but then I had the urge. I've been impressed by the performances and I thought "why not?".'

Mr Smith, who flew from Birmingham to Kiev via Dusseldorf, has a flight home booked for tomorrow, but said he might go to Warsaw instead if England win.

Fun: Many people up and down the country will hold parties tonight as they hope to see England progress to the semi-finals

Empty: Fans preparing to settle down ahead of tonight's match have emptied the shelves of beers at this Tesco store in Bristol

Expense: Many fans have paid hundreds of pounds for last-minute flights, match tickets and accommodation to be among the 6,000 Three Lions supporters inside the Olympic Stadium

Noisy: A large number of supporters are spending the hours before kick-off in the Kiev fan zone at Independence Square, drinking beer and singing songs in the glorious sunshine

Tom Taylor, 24, from Manchester, spent £750 on a two-day trip to be in the Ukrainian capital for the big match.

He said: 'I've got more into the tournament as it's gone along. If we win I'll come back out for Warsaw because it looks a lot easier to get there.

'I've had a look for the final and the prices are ridiculous already.'

Most England fans predicted a close match tonight involving two defensive sides.

Celebration: More than 10,000 England fans have spent the day pouring into Kiev for tonight¿s crucial game

Passion: England fans sing and chant in Kiev's fan zone this afternoon

Ryan Wood and his wife Zoe, from Sheffield, were hopeful that England would come out on top.

Mr Wood, 27, said: 'Italy aren't as good as they used to be.

'I think it will be a tight game with maybe one goal in it. I'll go for 1-0 to England with Andy Carroll coming off the bench to score the winner.'

Banter: A British police officer exchanges his helmet with an England supporter's hat

Funny: The police officer jokes with the England supporter after they have swapped hats

Friendly: As the pair return their hats to each other, they share a little kiss

His wife, 31, added: 'I think we're evenly matched, but England seem to be pretty well organised at the moment.

'They have a good team spirit so I'm quietly optimistic.'

Alan Kotz, 64, from Seer Green, Buckinghamshire, said: 'I saw the Italians play against Spain. They're very good, very compact, they come forward well.'

But he added: 'I think England can do it in extra-time by the odd goal.'

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Holt, representing the Association of Chief Police Officers, commended the England supporters on their conduct at Euro 2012 so far.

Refreshment: A fan drinks beer in front of a large England flag

Optimistic: A fan shows his match prediction of 1 - 0 to England on his goalkeeper gloves

Time for a rest: An England fan from Ipswich sleeps next to his 'British Bulldog' toy

Good news: A contingent of British police officers - who conducted a joint patrol with their Italian colleagues - have praised the behaviour of England supporters throughout the tournament

He said: 'We've been very pleased with the way they've behaved and the response that we've had when we've spoken to fans. If you'd offered me this at the start of the tournament I would have taken it.'

He added: 'There have been no arrests. There have been occasions when it's got quite lively, but we've managed with our Ukrainian colleagues to intervene and prevent it escalating.'

Bookmakers have admitted the outcome of tonight's game is too close to call, with both teams given odds of 9-5 to emerge victorious - with the haunting prospect of a penalty shoot-out looming large.

While much of the feverish pre-match build-up in Kiev focused on the showdown between star strikers Wayne Rooney and Mario Balotelli, no one was forgetting the pressure on the goalkeepers should the match be a draw after extra-time.

Leading the cheers: The prospect of a penalty shoot-out looms large, but dedicated England supporters outnumber their counterparts five to one

Stars in her eyes: England fan Gail Porter dons customised patriotic glasses as she prepares for the match in Ukraine

Last night England captain Steven Gerrard sought to rally the troops, praising goalkeeper Joe Hart as ‘one of the best in the world’ and urging his players to ‘end this hoodoo’. England have lost six out of seven penalty shoot-outs in the past 22 years at the Euros and World Cup finals.

In contrast to the confidence among England fans, the ‘Azzuri’ seemed to have lost faith. Airlines cancelled charter flights from Italy to Ukraine due to lack of interest and unsold match tickets from their allocation were returned.

About 20 million viewers are expected to be glued to televisions for the match, many of them steeling themselves in the only way they know how â€" with beer and crisps.

Ready to rule: England captain Steven Gerrard (right) gives a thumbs up as he leaves Krakow for Kiev with team-mate Joe Hart

And while England fans expect, so do the supermarkets. Tesco says it expects to sell 25 million cans and bottles of beer, cider and lager before the match, while Sainsbury’s is predicting a  60 per cent weekend boost for its alcoholic beverages.

Both predict a 30 per cent rise in crisps and nuts sales and it seems many shoppers are planning Italian-themed parties. MS has recorded a 175 per cent rise in pizza sales.

Roy Hodgson’s side has already exceeded many fans’ hopes and the 1-0 win over Ukraine last week broug ht ITV the highest peak TV audience of any channel this year at 18.6 million.

The National Grid is preparing for a half-time and full-time power ‘pick-up’ of 1,500 megawatts, rising in seconds from about 31,800 megawatts as the half-time whistle blows.

That is the equivalent of 600,000 kettles being switched on simultaneously or enough electricity to power Norwich. The biggest ever TV pick-up was at the end of the England versus Germany World Cup semi-final on  July 4, 1990 â€" the game in which England midfielder Paul Gascoigne cried â€" when it hit 2,800 megawatts.

Yesterday Gerrard, who arrived  with his team-mates from their base in Krakow, backed Joe Hart should the match go to penalties. ‘His performances have been fantastic and I think he is going to be one of our key players. At some time during the game or in extra-time or maybe penalties he is going to be called upon to make a fantastic save and we all trust he will.

‘In previous tournaments we haven’t shown what we are capable of but our performances are getting stronger in this competition. That is what gives me the belief that we can end this hoodoo that people talk about.’

English fans last night gathered in Kiev’s purpos e built fan-zone in the heart of the city. Dex Marshall, a financial adviser from Uckfield, East Sussex, has attended all the group games so far dressed as an English knight.

‘I came here two weeks ago and it’s been fantastic. Our team will win for sure. The score will be 2-1.

And I believe England will beat Germany in the semi-finals in Poland. I’ve already booked my flight to Poland â€" it cost me £200 one-way but it’s worth it.’

The England squad are allowed snacks ahead of the game â€" during which they could burn 4,000 calories â€" in the form of protein-filled ‘peanut balls’. Team chef Tim De’Ath is also preparing a pre-match meal of spaghetti bolognaise, salad and chicken followed by rice pudding.

As tonight’s 7.45pm kick-off approaches thousands of supporters are expected to crowd into Italian bars and restaurants in expat communities from South Wales to Soho.

Artistic: Italian striker Mario Balotelli's haircut was visible from the sky tonight as a huge caricature of him was carved into a cornfield near Verona

Impressive: The image, which covered 27,000 square metres, was created by Dario Gambarin. He described it as a 'good luck' message to the Manchester City ace

At London’s Bar Italia, in Frith Street, Soho, Sky, BBC TV and BBC Radio 5 are all running outside broadcasts to get half-time ‘fan analysis’.

Manager Veronica Polledri, 43, said 300 fans were expected including several English parties. ‘It will be good for the banter,’ she said. ‘We are an Italian family but our restaurant is in England so it is perfect.’

For those whose frayed nerves survive to witness England triumph tonight, there will be only one more thing to worry about... a semi-final against Germany on Thursday.

Italian striker Mario Balotelli's haircut was visible from the sky ahead of the big match as a huge caricature of him was carved into a cornfield.

The image, which covered 27,000 square metres, was created by Dario Gambarin in a field near Verona and he described it as a 'good luck' message to the Manchester City ace.

Gambarin, whose previous works have included Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela spent t welve hours under the blazing sun as tempertaures soared to 35'c to craete the image of Balotelli's trademark mohican haircut.

He said: 'It was all designed by free hand - that is to say there was no preparation or outline drawn into the field and I used a plough to do it. It was hard work but well worth it. I wanted it to be a good luck message to Mario and the rest of the team.'

Italy's sports press say their girls come out on top

England has already lost to Italy â€" at least in the showdown of the WAGs.

So claims a provocative Italian newspaper article which mocked the wives and girlfriends of the English squad and gloated: ‘Our WAGs are more beautiful and more famous â€" just looking at them you can see we win.’

Gazzetta Dello Sport said that England’s glamour quotient was hit by the loss of Cheryl Cole, who split from Ashley, and said the new top English WAG was Melanie Slade, partner of midfielder Theo Walcott.< br />

Italy’s WAG line-up includes ballerina Eleonora Abbagnato, wife of Federico Balzaretti; Playboy playmate Cristina de Pin, girlfriend of Riccardo Montolivo; TV host Silvia Hsieh, wife of Alessandro Diamanti; Alena Seredova, the model wife of goalie Gigi Buffon; and Mario Balotelli’s fiancee Raffaella Fico.

The Italian team

Sultry: (From left) Alena Seredova, wife of Italian goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, Cristiano Ronaldo's girlfriend Raffaella Fico, and Federico Balzaretti's wife Eleonora Abbagnato

Smouldering: Sylvia Hsieh, wife of Alessandro Diamanti, and Cristina De Pin, girlfriend of Riccardo Montolivo

The England team

England's finest: Wayne Rooney’s wife Coleen, left, and Glen Johnson's wife Laura

Hot couples: Glen Johnson his wife Laura, left, and Scott Parker with wife Carly in Krakow

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