De Haan denies Taylor claim

Holland Under 21 coach Foppe de Haan insists he did not call Steven Taylor 'a coward'.

During England Under 21s' tense penalty shoot-out defeat to Holland on Wednesday, Taylor momentarily appeared unlikely to take his spot-kick after hurting his ankle earlier in the game.

De Haan came on to the pitch to protest to the referee, who eventually relented, with Taylor converting his penalty.

Afterwards it was claimed that De Haan had labelled the defender 'a cheat and a coward', something vehemently denied by the Dutchman.

"I have never said one word against a player from another side as long as I am a trainer," said De Haan on Sky Sports News.

"I'm only shouting to my own players if I shout.

"I didn't say anything to him, nothing."

Dutch striker Ryan Babel felt De Haan needed to enter the pitch and also praised Taylor's character in scoring the penalty.

Babel said: "I heard something about that, you saw what happened.

"I think it was necessary to come on the pitch to say something to the ref.

"When he (Taylor) stands there to take the penalty, maybe he's going to miss. I think he shoot the penalty very good."