Spain beats Portugal in Euro 2012 penalty shoot-out

Cesc Fabregas celebrates scoring the winning goal: photo - EPA/Robert Ghement

In the final showdown, Portuguese captain and star striker Cristo Ronaldo did not even have the chance to do his bit for the side, with the shoot-out over at 4-2 before he - the fifth man up - was able to have a shot at goal.

The peculiar choice of leaving the best till last baffled football pundits and fans alike.

But at it was, Wednesday's game had not been one of Ronaldo's finest, and although his side looked decidedly dangerous, in extra time Spain looked like winning, with Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos a whisker away from scoring goals.

It was a nervy, fast-paced match that had its fare share of unseemly scraps, with as many as nine bookings, but Spain, as the reigning European and World champions, will now have one more shot at glory.

Meanwhile, Thursday's semi-final between Germany and Italy in Warsaw will be the last game on Polish soil during the tournament.

Polish Radio's football commentator Tomasz Zimoch has been spurring on fans to give the event a spirited send-off, calling on his countrymen to don national colours for today's match. (nh)