Euro 2012 analysis: Fabregas denies Ronaldo the last kick

Last updated on .From the section Euro 2012comments109

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo was billed as the player most likely to make a difference in the first Euro 2012 semi-final but as Spain beat Portugal 4-2 on penalties the tournament's joint-top scorer did not get a kick - literally.

Chosen as Portugal's fifth penalty taker, it was all set for the Real Madrid forward to seal his place among a long line of international greats after both sides failed to score in 120 minutes.

However, when Bruno Alves missed Portugal's fourth spot-kick to give Spain a 3-2 lead, Cesc Fabregas stepped up to secure Spain's place in the final leaving Ronaldo as a mere spectator.

The choice to leave their star striker until last came after Portugal had already mixed up the order of their takers. Alves approached the goal ready to take the third penalty but was caught by Nani who told his team-mate that the centre-back would go fourth.

Nani converted, but when Alves returned to penalty spot and crashed the ball against the crossbar, Fabregas clinched Spain's victory and Ronaldo's opportunity vanished.

Spain's passes per minute at Euro 2012

Spain's victory in numbers

  • Between them Portugal and Spain had four shots on target in two hours of football but did manage 27 shots in all
  • Against Portugal, Spain managed a pass completion rate of 75% compared to an average of 91% in Euro 2012 so far
  • They were also limited to 6.3 passes per minute, their lowest in the tournament so far after 8.1 against Italy, 9.5 v Republic of Ireland, 7.7 v Croatia and 7 against France
  • Spain have conceded just one goal en route to the Euro 2012 final. They have now not let in a goal for 419 minutes
  • It is only the second time Spain have won a major tournament game on penalties after beating Italy on their way to winning Euro 2008
  • Spain are now 19 competitive games unbeaten since losing their opening 2010 World Cup game against Switzerland

Alan Shearer on Match of the Day:

Alan Shearer

"Portugal would have settled for penalties before the game but it was absolutely ridiculous that Ronaldo went last. You have to put him before the two centre-halves [Pepe and Alves] that took them too.

"Sometimes the last penalty is the glory penalty but I can't understand why they left it that late. As the captain you have to go up and say 'I'm going first'.

"There was no point in him going fifth. We were already fearing the worst for Alves because once Nani pulled him back it ruined his confidence."

Alan Hansen on Match of the Day:

Alan Hansen

"The penalties provided the drama and excitement at the end but it wasn't a great game. I thought Spain deserved to win because of the manner in which way they played in extra-time, but only just.

"It is a sign of a good side that even when you look tired you can pick yourself up and start playing again. During extra-time it was an amazing turnaround because for 90 minutes there was no fluency and their passing was appalling.

"During the penalty shoot-out, it was obvious that Alves didn't want to take one because Nani came over and took over from him.

"When Sergio Ramos, a central defender, chipped his penalty over the keeper like Italian Andrea Pirlo it was an unbelievable moment.

"And what a penalty from Cesc Fabregas to win it. It left Ronaldo as the last man standing."

What they said about Spain's shootout victory:

"Why did Ronaldo not take a penalty earlier? Waiting for glory maybe!" - Former England striker Ian Wright on Twitterexternal-link

"My team-mate [Alves] hit the bar. He thought it was his turn but the coach told me it was my turn." - Portugal midfielder Nani on the mix-up for Portugal's third penalty

"We had this plan and if it would have been 4-4 and he would taken the last penalty we would be talking in a different way." - Portugal boss Paulo Bento

"Before the penalty I was talking to the ball. I talked to the ball four years ago [when he scored winning penalty v Italy] and it didn't let me down." - Spain's winning penalty taker Cesc Fabregas.

"Whatever you think about penalty shoot-outs, they can salvage a dire game! Thrilling finale." - Former England striker and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker on Twitterexternal-link

Give your views on Portugal and Spain's performance on Twitter at #bbcfootball

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109 comments

  • For Hansen to say Spain's passing was 'appalling' is plain stupid. For much of the game Spain were below their elevated best, but if we saw an England team pass half as well as they did last night we'd think we had attained nirvana.

  • @ 24

    Absolutely yes! Some of Spain’s possession football yesterday, particularly in working the ball out of tight defensive situations, was sublime.

    There are non so blind as those who cannot see.

  • The team playing possession football, won through against the pressing team. Yes on penalties but a penalty is essentially a special kind of pass, requiring composure and accuracy, the qualities that are better represented in a relatively energised passing team than in a physically drained pressing team.

    In open play, Spain never strayed from PF, and they deserved their victory for that.

  • @85 Why? becuase he was the Captain of the side its his repsonsibility to step us and show the team how its done, not go for glory.

    Plus i dont buy into this Spain are boring routine, if you cant watch 90mins of pure skill from the best team in the world with some of the best players in world theres omehting wrong with you, not football. Spain make it look so easy and peoplw forget this.

  • Almostajoker,
    You're nearly right..
    The only statistic that counts is NOT goals scored but who won.
    Spain will be playing on Sunday, Portugal won't.
    Spain won.
    Spain won the last Euro and the last World Cup.
    YOU might find it boring but it's bloody effective.
    What would you have them do?
    Let the opposition have the ball to make the game more fun to watch but lose in the end?

  • I think the last people who should be criticising the penalty kick arrangements of other countries are the English.

  • Talk about making mountains out of molehills.Mind you those highly paid 'experts' have to say something to justify their huge fees. Ronaldo has missed penalties in the past.Who is to say he would have scored. Alves absolutely rattled the crossbar. To say he bottled it because his confidence was affected by walking up out of turn is laughable.

  • To those who are saying that Spain's play is boring as it has no end product here are the official UEFA stats for Spain and Germany.

    Spain

    Goals scored 8
    Attempts on target 49 second highest behind Italy on 50
    Corners 40 Highest.

    Germany

    Goals scored 9 Highest
    Attempts on target 33
    Corners 20

    Seems like pretty good end product to me.

  • Casillas IS the best in the world Ralph.
    Every keeper makes mistakes and those on youtube are dated.
    Look atwhat he does when he can't hold onto a shot/cross.
    See how, with frightening regularity, the ball falls to the feet of a Real/Spain player.
    That's not coincedence. That's brilliance.

  • I thought Portugal showed the way on how to combat the spanish style. I thought their pressing game was excellent, not giving Spain the time on the ball to control the match. Yes, Portugal tired in extra-time, Ronaldo had an off-day with his shooting boots, but I thought they deserved to win in the 90, and Spain during extra-time. For Ronaldo not to have a spot-kick was obviously a bad mistake.

  • Once again the Peacocks ego has come before the team. Its of little use saving one for later, if later is of no use. He is with little doubt a very good player. History will not recall him as such, great players generally display more than skills on the pitch, carrying a huge ego is not normally one of them.

  • I bet Messi would've taken the first penalty. What were they thinking?

  • Ronaldo puts personal glory ahead of the team - how typical of the vainest man in football.

  • @ alex - think you should put your reading glasses on before you comment on things wrongly that were clearly mentioned in the article - Ronaldo DIDN'T choose to take the last penalty - Paulo Bento did. Don't mask your obvious envy at Ronaldo with a critique of the misfortune of Portugal's penalty shootout. FORCA PORTUGAL!

  • #76 - "Xavi, who was taken off he was so bad"

    Xavi actually didn't play that badly at all. He has a long-standing Achilles injury. He is also 32 years of ago. Have you thought that, in the light of Portugal tiring rapidly in the second half, perhaps Del Bosque just wanted to keep him fairly fresh for the final?

  • Serious errors with your researcher regarding Spain wins on penalties in major competitions:

    Spain beat Denmark on penalties in the semi-finals of Euro 1984, and beat Ireland the second round of the 2002 World Cup, so that's at least four occasions that they have won on penalties, including the two occasions already mentioned.

    Can I have the job now please?

  • Spain are boring what next lol england are the best team in the world yeah. Yes they didnt play well, but at least they created chances they done enough to win, Portugal with all that pressing created zlinch.

  • Someone below saying the bbc stats are bogus, I would tend to agree, I've noticed a few inconsistencies over the course of the tournament so far. And above is a clanger;

    ''It is only the second time Spain have won a major tournament game on penalties after beating Italy on their way to winning Euro 2008 ''

    I very clearly remember them beating Ireland on pens in the Quarter Finals in 2002!

  • Unbelievable that they allowed Alves to take a penalty. Even a couple of minutes hold-up can affect the penalty takers concentration and confidence so what must Nany´s pulling him back have done to him: a bit of disarray in the Portuguese camp I fear.

  • Cant believe people are saying the Spanish are boring to watch, they are playing flowing, passing football unlike the English who are doing exactly what Chelsea did and for that matter what Rangers did in 2008 by defending and settling for 0-0 and anything better is a bonus...now THAT is boring and not football

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