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Ronaldo would have taken the fifth penalty: Bento
We should be proud, say Ronaldo, Nani
Cesc fabregas
Sharapova survives scare
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Donetsk, June 28 Xabi Alonso and Joao Moutinho both saw their opening penalties saved, but Portugal blinked first when Zenit Saint-Petersburg centre-back Bruno Alves slammed his side's fourth penalty against the crossbar. Fabregas stepped up and, just as he had done in the penalty shootout win over Italy in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals, the Barcelona man held his nerve, steering the ball into the bottom-left corner to send Portugal home. "We are so happy to have reached another final. I don't know if that has ever been done in history," Fabregas told Spanish television channel Telecinco, his voice cracking with emotion. "They told me I was going to take the second kick, but I said: No, I want to take the fifth one. Reigning world and European champions Spain, who are bidding to become the first team in history to win three major competitions in a row, will face either Italy or Germany in Sunday's final in Kiev. We were stronger in extra time, but overall it was a fairly even contest, said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque. "It was tough. We took a while to get into our stride. The Portuguese were very well organised. Germany and Italy are equally strong. It was a deeply disappointing end to the tournament for Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who had threatened to fire his side into only their second major final but who did not even get a chance to have his say in the shootout. If I had to choose a way of losing, I wouldn't choose this, said Portugal coach Paulo Bento. But you have to lose some way. Spain are a great team and we can leave the pitch with our heads held high. A surprise inclusion in Spain's starting line-up, Alvaro Negredo was at the source of the game's first chance, with Alvaro Arbeloa side-footing over after the Sevilla striker was crowded out in the Portuguese area. Portugal's match-winner against both the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, Ronaldo was a spectator in the first 10 minutes, but gradually his influence grew. After fluffing a free-kick into the base of the wall from a tight angle on the left, he lashed a half-volley high over the crossbar from the edge of the area and then drilled a left-shot narrowly wide of the right-hand post. As in the quarter-final win against France, Spain struggled to find holes in their opponent's defence, and it was a surprise to see Alonso club a long ball forward in the 29th minute. It produced a sight of goal, however, with Andres Iniesta bending a shot narrowly over the bar after Negredo had chased down Alonso's pass, held off Fabio Coentrao, and worked the ball back to the edge of the area. The snap in Portugal's tackles was helping them establish a presence in the Spanish half and with Negredo failing to provide enough of an outlet for Spain, it was no surprise to see him replaced by Fabregas early in the second half. Del Bosque introduced Jesus Navas in place of David Silva, before Xavi worked Rui Patricio for the first time in the match with a speculative effort that found the Portugal goalkeeper's midriff. Ronaldo had a fine opportunity to snatch a winner in the last minute of normal time but he could only shoot over from Raul Meireles' pass, prompting mocking cries of 'Messi! Messi!' from the Spain fans. A succession of late flare-ups gave the game added spice going into extra time, and after a watchful opening, Spain finally began to show. Shortly before half-time in the extra period, Iniesta drew the first real save of note from Patricio after ghosting into the box to meet Jordi Alba's cut-back. Sergio Ramos then sent a free-kick whistling over the bar, while Navas tested Patricio early in the second half after wriggling down the inside-right channel in the Portuguese box. Fabregas sent fellow substitute Pedro Rodriguez clear with seven minutes left but he delayed, allowing Coentrao to clear, and the time for penalties had arrived. AFP
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Ronaldo would have taken the fifth penalty: Bento
Donetsk, June 28 Spain keeper Iker Casillas saved Joao Moutinho's penalty then Bruno Alves hit the bar to open the door for substitute Cesc Fabregas, who scored the decisive kick via the post after a 0-0 draw during normal and extra time. "We lost because Spain were more efficient in the penalties, but it's true that we did not have any luck in this tournament," Bento told a news conference. Asked why the world's most expensive player Ronaldo did not step up to take a penalty, Bento said it had been agreed that the captain would come forward for the final spot kick. "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," he said. The coach found much to praise in Portugal's battle with holders Spain, as well as their displays during the showcase in Ukraine and Poland. "In my opinion we have played a very good tournament. If you consider how we played today I think we were better in the first 90 minutes, then in extra time we were less efficient," he said. "If you don't have this little bit of luck then you miss it. We didn't have much luck in this game." Bento also hailed Portugal's Iberian neighbours. "Spain really deserve to be in the final, but at the same time I want to thank my players for what they have shown in this tournament," he added. "I think we played very competitively, we are an aggressive and cohesive team... the way we lost allows us to have a lot of confidence." Alves had looked set to take the third penalty but Nani suddenly appeared behind him, took it and scored. Alves then came back for the fourth spot kick but struck the bar, handing the initiative to Fabregas. "There was some confusion with Bruno Alves and with Nani, then Bruno took the penalty...and it was decisive," the coach continued. "Penalties could have been an advantage for us, but we lost the advantage after the first one," Bento said. Reuters
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We should be proud, say Ronaldo, Nani
Donetsk, June 28 "We didn't lack for conviction but we were unlucky. That's penalties for you," said Ronaldo, whose frustration was apparent after he did not even get to take his kick as Portugal's final penalty-taker. Spain keeper and Ronaldo's Real Madrid clubmate Iker Casillas had ensured as much by saving from Joao Moutinho while Bruno Alves hit the crossbar. "We really gave it all we had, and it's difficult to go out on penalties. We showed a lot of quality," said Manchester United star Nani, who put away his kick after appearing to push Alves down the pecking order. "In the end Spain simply had more luck than we did. But people in Portugal can be proud of their team. We are sad as we deserved to be in the final - but we can go home with our heads held high," Nani insisted in an echo of England coach Roy Hodgson. AFP |
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Cesc fabregas
Donetsk, June 28
When I stepped up to take the penalty I said to the ball that we had to make history and it shouldn't let me down. They told me initially to take the second one but I said no give me the fifth as I had this premonition. Fabregas' faith proved better placed than Portugal's in keeping Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo in reserve for the final spot-kick. The world's most expensive player and Euro 2012 joint top scorer ahead of Wednesday's semi-final had to stand and watch helplessly as the Barcelona man put an end to the contest. Spain's other hero was Sergio Ramos who followed the example set by Italy's Andre Pirlo against England in nervelessly dinking the ball gently over the goalkeeper. It was all the braver for his having missed one of the penalties in Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final elimination by Bayern Munich just over a month ago. I had absolutely no doubts. I wanted to take one because I have always been ready to and I wanted to prove it. Reuters
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We rode our luck, says del Bosque
Donetsk, June 28 We had loads of luck in the penalties, Del Bosque told a news conference. But I want to express my congratulations to the Portuguese side because they played a great tournament, but we were luckier, we really had all the luck this time. We created more when they came on, we caused them more problems and it was vital I brought them on. We were looking tired and we needed the extra pace, especially in extra time when Pedro came on, he said. Extra time though proved our players are gaining in experience. They had the mental strength, they could deal with it. There was no problem, Cesc told me he wanted take the fifth one to score the winning penalty and he did," he added. Reuters
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London, June 28 "If she played on grass 365 days a year she'd be top five probably," Sharapova said of her Bulgarian opponent who reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2010 and the quarters last year. "Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. She has the perfect game for it. She always does really well against top players. She really rises for the occasion."
The Russian world number one, Wimbledon champion in 2004, made 30 unforced errors but showed flashes of the form that took her to the French Open title this month with 37 winners, mainly with her booming forehand. Pironkova dominated the start of the contest in gloomy conditions on Wednesday but Sharapova clung on to save five set points before taking the first set into a tiebreak which she won 7-3. She was leading 3-1 in the second when the match was halted due to bad light. "Obviously it felt like two matches in a way," Sharapova said. "Yesterday she came out firing, started so well, and had so many opportunities to win that set. I really hung on. I was just extremely tough. Today I wanted to start off really well because I knew I was up a break. It didn't go according to plan. Really served sloppy. In the third I changed it around." Reuters
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Somdev excited and ready for Olympics
New Delhi, June 28 Somdev has been out of action due to a shoulder surgery since the start of the season and started practising only recently. Ideally, he would have wanted to have played some competitive tennis before the Games. But Somdev opted out of Wimbledon, a tournament which would have given him vital clues about the conditions and the courts since the Olympics tennis events will be played in the same venue. Somdev said he just followed his doctors' advice to skip the grass court Grand Slam but is readying himself well for the Games. Thanks to the wild card entry into the men's singles, he will be one of the four Indians making his Olympic debut when the Games begin next month "I am ready to make the most of the wild card. This is a very exciting time for me," Somdev said. Somdev, who became quite a sensation in Indian tennis after making the final of the 2009 Chennai Open before fading out, said he himself was keen to compete in Wimbledon. PTI
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Portugal had planned for Cristiano Ronaldo to take the fifth penalty that never was, coach Paulo Bento said after his team's 4-2 shootout defeat by Spain in Wednesday's Euro 2012 semifinal.
Spain keeper Iker Casillas saved Joao Moutinho's penalty then Bruno Alves hit the bar to open the door for substitute Cesc
Fabregas, who scored the decisive kick via the post after a 0-0 draw during normal and extra time.
Maria Sharapova was made to work hard for her place in the Wimbledon third round on Thursday by an opponent she said would be in the world's top five if every tournament was on grass. Tsvetana Pironkova took advantage of three double faults by the top seed in the second set tiebreak before Sharapova roared through the third in 29 minutes to seal a 7-6, 6-7, 6-0 victory in a match held over from Wednesday.
Italy, possible opponents in Sunday's final, will also remember his winning spot-kick after coming off the bench in their quarter-final at the last European Championship. "I had a funny feeling about the penalties and I was thinking about them this afternoon. That life has given me another chance like this is really incredible," Fabregas said after Spain's 4-2 shootout victory.
The 24-year-old Pironkova, ranked 38th in the world, won the first two games of the match on Wednesday and caused Sharapova problems with her powerful serve and speed around the court. "Every time I play against her and every time I see her face a tough opponent, especially here, she plays extremely well," said Sharapova, who served 10 double faults. "You saw some of that yesterday, definitely."
