Portugal v Spain, 27 June 2012

Score0-0 :: penalties 4-2 to Spain
Referee Cüneyt Çakir
CompetitionUEFA European Championship Semi-final
VenueDonbass Arena, Donetsk
Attendance51,500
Kick-off: 9.45pm local Spain won 4-2 on penalties. After extra time. 0-0 after 90 minutes Assistant referees: Bahattin Duran (Turkey) Tarık Ongun (Turkey) Fourth official: Damir Skomina (Slovenia) Additional assistant referees: Hüseyin Göçek (Turkey) Bülent Yıldırım (Turkey) Man of the Match: Sergio Ramos (Spain) Spain flirted with the end of the road, but Sunday's final in Kyiv now awaits the holders after Cesc Fàbregas sealed a penalty shoot-out win against Portugal at the end of a goalless draw in Donetsk. It may not have been spectacular, but fascinating, tense and committed it certainly was, Portugal neutralising Spain as few teams have over 120 minutes of football. It was beyond midnight in Ukraine by the time misses from João Moutinho and Bruno Alves allowed Fàbregas to crown victory, but a new day has yet to dawn on the international scene as Spain stand a step away from becoming the first team to win three consecutive major tournaments. Only Germany or Italy can stop them now. Thoughts before the game turned to Miki Roqué – the Real Betis Balompié defender who died aged 23 from cancer on Sunday – as Spain paid their respects with black armbands. With the former Liverpool FC youngster in their hearts, Vicente del Bosque's side then set about their task, going close inside nine minutes when Álvaro Arbeloa side-footed over as the ball broke to him following Andrés Iniesta's incisive run. The more compelling play was just about coming from the defending champions, although the decision to start Álvaro Negredo rather than Fàbregas or Fernando Torres was not bringing obvious rewards. Del Bosque had hoped to pose Portugal centre-backs Pepe and Bruno Alves a more physical conundrum, yet a bluntness was taking hold whenever his team moved forward. The pace of Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani meant Paulo Bento's men posed a latent danger, coiled and ready to spring, and the pair nearly combined when Ronaldo tore down the left and clipped in a cross that Iker Casillas whipped out of circulation. So much of the pre-game talk had revolved around the Real Madrid CF forward and he drove low and wide just beyond the half-hour, after Iniesta had curled over when released by Xavi Hernández. Spain's 'passing carousel' was not revolving at its smoothest, though, with Portugal pressing them hard, and Del Bosque swapped Negredo for Fàbregas nine minutes after the restart. Jesús Navas then replaced David Silva after an hour as La Roja sought to end the uncommon experience of being on the back foot. Still, genuine opportunities were quickly draining from the game. Ronaldo was unable to trouble Casillas with a trio of free-kicks before his best chance – the chance to settle the contest in normal time – came in the final minute. Raul Meireles broke through the middle and there, unmarked to his left, was his colleague. With Del Bosque surely fearing a missile into the top corner, Ronaldo sliced high and wide. That miss took the match into extra time and Rui Patrício made the first notable save of the evening when he sprawled left to deny Iniesta at point-blank range following Jordi Alba's cut-back. The Portugal goalkeeper also had to move quickly to his right to thwart Navas in the second period. The holders were gaining the upper hand at last, and although Patrício saved the first spot kick of the shoot-out from Xabi Alonso, Fàbregas ensured they kept it.

0 (2)  Portugal

Manager: Paulo Bento

0 (4)  Spain

Manager: Vicente del Bosque

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Rui Patrício
Defender Bruno Alves
Defender Pepe
Defender/Midfielder Fábio Coentrão
Midfielder João Moutinho
Midfielder João Pereira
Midfielder Miguel Veloso
Midfielder Nani
Midfielder Raul Meireles
Forward Hugo Almeida
Forward Cristiano Ronaldo (captain)

Starting lineup:

Iker Casillas Goalkeeper (captain)
Álvaro Arbeloa Defender
Gerard Piqué Defender
Sergio Ramos Defender
Jordi Alba Defender/Midfielder
David Silva Midfielder
Iniesta Midfielder
Sergio Busquets Midfielder
Xabi Alonso Midfielder
Xavi Midfielder
Álvaro Negredo Forward

Substitutions:

Nélson Oliveira for Hugo Almeida 81
Custodio for Miguel Veloso 106
Silvestre Varela for Raul Meireles 113

Substitutions:

Cesc Fàbregas for Álvaro Negredo 54
Jesús Navas for David Silva 60
Pedro for Xavi 87

Cards:

Fábio Coentrão 45 Y
Pepe 61 Y
João Pereira 64 Y
Bruno Alves 86 Y
Miguel Veloso 90 Y

Cards:

Sergio Ramos 40 Y
Sergio Busquets 60 Y
Álvaro Arbeloa 84 Y
Xabi Alonso 113 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Beto
Goalkeeper Eduardo
Defender Miguel Lopes
Defender Rolando
Midfielder Custodio
Midfielder Hugo Viana
Midfielder Ricardo Costa
Midfielder Rúben Micael
Midfielder Silvestre Varela

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina
Goalkeeper Victor Valdés
Midfielder Cesc Fàbregas
Midfielder Jesús Navas
Midfielder Juan Mata
Midfielder Pedro
Midfielder Raúl Albiol
Midfielder Santi Cazorla

Comments:

PENALTY SHOOT-OUT DETAILS (Portugal went second) 1 - Joao Moutinho [saved] 2 - Pepe [scored] 3 - Nani [scored] 4 - Bruno Alves [missed - hit crossbar]

Comments:

PENALTY SHOOT-OUT DETAILS (Spain went first) 1 - Xabi Alonso [saved] 2 - Andres Iniesta [scored] 3 - Gerard Pique [scored] 4 - Sergio Ramos [scored] 5 - Cesc Fabregas [scored]

0 (2)  Portugal

Manager: Paulo Bento

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Rui Patrício
Defender Bruno Alves
Defender Pepe
Defender/Midfielder Fábio Coentrão
Midfielder João Moutinho
Midfielder João Pereira
Midfielder Miguel Veloso
Midfielder Nani
Midfielder Raul Meireles
Forward Hugo Almeida
Forward Cristiano Ronaldo (captain)

Substitutions:

Nélson Oliveira for Hugo Almeida 81
Custodio for Miguel Veloso 106
Silvestre Varela for Raul Meireles 113

Cards:

Fábio Coentrão 45 Y
Pepe 61 Y
João Pereira 64 Y
Bruno Alves 86 Y
Miguel Veloso 90 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Beto
Goalkeeper Eduardo
Defender Miguel Lopes
Defender Rolando
Midfielder Custodio
Midfielder Hugo Viana
Midfielder Ricardo Costa
Midfielder Rúben Micael
Midfielder Silvestre Varela

Comments:

PENALTY SHOOT-OUT DETAILS (Portugal went second) 1 - Joao Moutinho [saved] 2 - Pepe [scored] 3 - Nani [scored] 4 - Bruno Alves [missed - hit crossbar]

0 (4)  Spain

Manager: Vicente del Bosque

Starting lineup:

Iker Casillas Goalkeeper (captain)
Álvaro Arbeloa Defender
Gerard Piqué Defender
Sergio Ramos Defender
Jordi Alba Defender/Midfielder
David Silva Midfielder
Iniesta Midfielder
Sergio Busquets Midfielder
Xabi Alonso Midfielder
Xavi Midfielder
Álvaro Negredo Forward

Substitutions:

Cesc Fàbregas for Álvaro Negredo 54
Jesús Navas for David Silva 60
Pedro for Xavi 87

Cards:

Sergio Ramos 40 Y
Sergio Busquets 60 Y
Álvaro Arbeloa 84 Y
Xabi Alonso 113 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina
Goalkeeper Victor Valdés
Midfielder Cesc Fàbregas
Midfielder Jesús Navas
Midfielder Juan Mata
Midfielder Pedro
Midfielder Raúl Albiol
Midfielder Santi Cazorla

Comments:

PENALTY SHOOT-OUT DETAILS (Spain went first) 1 - Xabi Alonso [saved] 2 - Andres Iniesta [scored] 3 - Gerard Pique [scored] 4 - Sergio Ramos [scored] 5 - Cesc Fabregas [scored]