(Sporting Alert) – Cristiano Ronaldo opted to kick last and he never got the chance, as Spain beat Portugal 4-2 on penalties to book their place into the Euro 2012 championships final on Wednesday.
Both sides played to a dull 0-0 draw in regular and extra time and the deciding factor was left down to the dreadful penalties.
It is believed that Ronaldo was the fifth name on the list to take a penalty kick for Portugal, and so he never stepped forward to take the fourth when his team needed to score to stay alive in the shoot out.
And when Cesc Fabregas belted home the decider off the post, Ronaldo was left very disappointed at not taking a spot kick.
He immediately received criticisms from pundits for not stepping up early enough as his team’s leader and best player – to try and keep his side within a chance.
Bruno Alves, after being pushed back down the order by Nani when he was about to kick, took the fourth and he hammered it on the post.
Xabi Alonso missed for Spain.
The finals is on Sunday.
“We didn’t play that well, but the team worked hard,” Fabregas said after the win.
“I was stepping up to take the fifth penalty and I was confident.”
Portugal v Spain
Portugal: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Fabio Coentrao, Meireles, Veloso, Joao Moutinho, Nani, Almeida, Ronaldo
Subs: Eduardo, Custodio, Quaresma, Nelson Oliveira, Ricardo Costa, Rolando, Ruben Micael, Varela, Miguel Lopes, Hugo Viana, Postiga, Beto
Spain: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Alonso, Silva, Negredo, Iniesta
Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Juanfran, Pedro, Torres, Fabregas, Mata, Llorente, Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Reina
Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)
