Just finished watching the Spain and Portugal match, which was a very interesting spectacle despite having barely any goal mouth action until late on with Spain looking most likely to score in extra-time.
What I really can’t understand though is the decision of Cristiano Ronaldo or the coach to take the 5th penalty for Portugal – was it that he wanted to score the glory goal, the winning penalty which could take Portugal through to the Euro 2012 finals? Were they saving the best until last? If so, I really think a bad decision was made. Two central defenders took penalties before Ronaldo had the chance to, and unfortunately Alves hit the crossbar with his. Surely Ronaldo would have been first choice, or one of the first, to take a penalty as he didn’t even get the chance to take his when Fabregas converted the winner for Spain.

Apologies if this sounds a bit of a rant but I really don’t understand it when Cristiano Ronaldo is the number one penalty taker and set-piece taker with Real Madrid, one of the biggest clubs in the world, and then finds himself the 5th choice in the shoot out.

Whatever the reason behind this decision, its definitely back-fired and Portugal and Ronaldo both paid the penalty (pardon the pun) with Spain through to the Euro 2012 finals at the expense of Portugal, where they’ll probably face Germany. If Spain play without a striker again, and the way they played tonight, Germany will find it pretty easy to break down what will be a currently-exhausted Spanish side.

Incidentally, “Injustica” means injustice/unjust…