England were beaten 13-12 in an extraordinary penalty shoot-out in which a limping Taylor scored after being forced to take a spot-kick.

"It's the most disappointment in my career so far - coming so close," Taylor told Sky Sports 1.

"And I thought we deserved better but it wasn't to be. We did ourselves proud and we kept battling."

Taylor, injured towards the end of normal time, was at the centre of controversy during the shoot-out when he left the pitch immediately before he was due to take a penalty.

Holland coach Foppe de Haan protested and the referee appeared to change his mind by sending Taylor back on.

And the Newcastle defender said: "I was told to get off the pitch by the fourth official.

"I was ready to take one and I had no problems taking one and I was delighted to score but it wasn't to be for the rest of the lads."

Pearce was also determined Taylor should take his penalty.

"My opinion was everyone had to take a penalty," he added on Sky Sports 1.

"Their coach spotted that Steve was told to get off by the referee because of his injury.

"At first they thought I was complaining and I wasn't, I was going on to say the boy had to take a penalty."

Pearce also played down concerns over the Dutch equaliser which was scored in the 89th minute while Taylor was down injured in an echo of his side's second goal in the group match against Serbia.

The former Manchester City boss added: "I've got no complaints about that, like I've got no complaints about the Serbian complaints.

"We hold our hands up - we had the chance to clear it, we didn't clear it."