England make semis

Italy beat the Czech Republic through goals by Alberto Aquilani, Giorgio Chiellini and Giuseppe Rossi.

England now face hosts the Netherlands in the semi finals next week, while Serbia face Belgium.

Goals from Leroy Lita and Matt Derbyshire gave England the win, although the actions of Serbia's fans and players during and after the match will no doubt result in at least one complaint from the Football Association.

Firstly, Serbia's fans were warned by the stadium announcer for racist chanting at England's black players.

Secondly, Serbia's players charged towards and hounded Derbyshire after he scored England's second, as the substitute had finished with aplomb with a Serbia player on the ground. Bizarrely the referee Knut Kircher booked Derbyshire for over-celebrating and - under advice from an assistant - James Milner, for attempting to calm down the Serbia players, who were pushing and throwing punches at England's players.

And finally, after the final whistle, Serbia's players charged England's players down the tunnel, with allegedly racist comments made to Justin Hoyte and Derbyshire understood to have been spat at.

Back to the match - which was scrappy and disappointing - England started well and took an early lead when Milner's right wing free-kick was headed back across goal by Steven Taylor and bundled over the line by Lita, diving in for his second in as many games.

Nigel Reo-Coker almost made it two five minutes later when he flicked a Kieron Richardson free kick agonsingly high and wide.

Midway through the first half the appeals were made for Serbia's fans to cease racially abusing England's players, while Serbia themselves got back into the game and had a decent shout for a penalty when Kojco Kacar seemed to be brought down by Lita, his theatrical tumble perhaps convincing the ref that he had made a meal of it.

Scott Carson was becoming England's key man, making a few saves from Predrag Pavlovic, as England started to look ragged and tired.

Milner forced a good save from Aleksandar Kesic and Richardson somehow poked wide after great work from Derbyshire set him up, while Kesic was called into action again by an outrageous Lita bicycle-kick, but England were effectively under the kosh until the young Blackburn striker finished off Serbia.

With Slobodan Rajkovic going down injured, Richardson played a lofted ball to Derbyshire, who was onside and finished low and hard past Kesic into the bottom left corner.

Serbia's players lost the plot - believing that Derbyshire should have put the ball out of play - but the move happened at pace and the Englishman appeared to be directing his line of vision towards the left, at Richardson and his pass, with Rajkovic lying to his right.

While they surrounded and appeared to strike Derbyshire and other England players, only Gojko Kacar was booked for Serbia, while England received two cards - for Milner and Derbyshire - despite appearing to be trying to calm things down.

The match as a contest was effectively over by this point - although Serbia dominated the closing stages and hit the outside of the post through Nikola Petkovic - and to finish things off Huddlestone was shown a straight red for verbally abusing the other assistant.

Events after the final whistle were caught in part by SkySports cameras - jostling and arguing between the players instigated by Serbia and what seemed to be a spitball aimed at the back of Derbyshire - one of many incidents about which the FA will no doubt cry foul to UEFA.

- REDA MAHER -