This time it is going to be different

Steven Gerrard said yesterday that he believes tonight's Euro 2012 quarter-final against Italy could be England's springboard to ending the “hurt and pain” of previous failures, as they bid to reach the last four of a major tournament for the first time in 16 years.

The England captain said today's game was a "fantastic moment" for the current England squad and that, as a veteran of four previous tournaments, he would encourage them to ensure they have "no regrets" about their performance at Kiev's Olympic Stadium. There are no injury problems in the squad, with Ashley Young and Ashley Cole having come successfully through treatment this week.

Roy Hodgson said he would tell the players the starting XI at their lunchtime meeting today, but he is expected to name an unchanged team from the side that began the final group game against Ukraine, with Danny Welbeck partnering Wayne Rooney in attack.

England are just two games away from what would be only their second tournament final, and Gerrard said he had found it impossible to stop himself imagining what the next week might hold. "Once you get to this stage of a competition, the quarter-finals, and you can see what's in sight, you start to dream," he said. "To lose any quarter-final match it hurts so much.

"This is a fantastic moment for this team and this group of players. It's important we grasp it and we don't go home with any regrets. The only thing we can do [against Italy] is try and play a good level, leave everything out there and give our best. Hopefully that's enough to take us through.

"Since I made my England debut I've dreamed of doing well in these major tournaments. Up to now that hasn't happened. There's another chance here to do it and, because of the hurt and pain I've been through before, I'm hoping it'll be different this time. I'm going to give it everything I've got to try and make it different this time."

If it does come to a penalty shoot-out against the Italians, Hodgson admitted he may make substitutions towards the end of extra time to get specialist penalty-takers such as Leighton Baines on the pitch.

"I wouldn't think it's a mistake if you've got a player on the bench who's good at pens and you want to take someone off who's not so good," he said.