So often the dreams of England fans rest on the players' ability to score from 12 yards. Today, P is for penalty shoot-out.
The dreaded penalty shoot out.
On many occasions England have fought bravely for 120 minutes, had chances to win but then have failed to hold their nerve in
the penalty shoot out, resulting in sudden elimination for the Three Lions from major tournaments.
Most recent in the catalogue of pain are the two shoot out defeats to Portugal, in Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006. On both occasions England were widely acknowledged as the better side in normal time only to suffer from 12 yards.
Even luck seems to desert England players in shoot-outs. In the quarter-final of Euro 2004, the pitch gave way under David Beckham's standing foot as he
struck his shot, sending the ball over the bar.
Paul Robinson saved Rui Costa's penalty to level the number of penalties missed, but it proved to not be England's night as substitute Darius Vassell's
effort was saved by Ricardo, sending Sven-Goran Eriksson's side out of the tournament.
Two years later, England met Portugal again in a penalty shoot out. This time following a 0-0 draw in the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup, it was
Gerrard, Lampard and Carragher who missed in the shoot-out as England were beaten by Phil Scolari's Portuguese side for the second time in successive tournaments.
Before the Portuguese it was Germany who were England's foes at spot kicks, defeating the Three Lions in the 1990 World Cup and 1996 European
Championships, both at the semi-final stage.
England have enjoyed one happy ending from a penalty shootout, against Spain at Wembley in Euro '96. After a tense game which brought no goals, the quarter-final came down to spot kicks. Alan Shearer and David Platt had converted for England, whilst Fernando Hierro had hit the bar for the Spaniards.
Next up was Stuart Pearce, looking to bury the ghost of Italia '90 - where he had missed. With the whole country urging him on, Pearce did not disappoint, unleashing a bullet of a strike low and hard into the bottom corner. The outburst of emotion from 'Psycho' when he realised he had scored was an iconic image of the tournament for England fans.
After Amor and Gascoigne converted it was left for David Seaman to save Miguel Nadal's effort, making him a hero and sending the hosts into the semi finals.