Cesc’s joy as dream comes true

Cesc Fabregas was again the hero with the deciding penalty as Spain edged past Portugal 4-2 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes in last night’s Euro 2012 semi-final in Donetsk.

Four years ago Fabregas netted the deciding spot-kick in the quarter-final shoot-out with Italy, and once more he kept his nerve to send the defending champions through to Sunday’s final.

Fabregas, a second half substitute again in his unfamiliar ‘false nine’ role, said he had visualised the moment earlier in the day.

“The team has worked so hard, I was thinking earlier that there would be penalties,” said the Barcelona man. “I had that presentiment. It is incredible, that is the truth. It happened four years ago and it has happened again.”

Andrés Iniesta, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Ramos also scored for La Roja, while Spain’s captain and keeper Iker Casillas stopped from Joao Moutinho. Bruno Alves’ effort rebounded from the corner. Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio had given his side an early advantage in the shoot-out with a save from Spain’s first taker, Xabi Alonso.

Pepe and Nani’s converted efforts were in vain, while Cristiano Ronaldo did not get a chance to take one.

Ramos kept his nerve to score a Andrea Pirlo-style ‘Panenka’ kick in the shoot-out, even though he had missed last April for his club Real Madrid against Bayern Munich in this season’s Champions League semi-finals.

“It is very emotional, after such a long season, and all we have done with the team,” said the Real Madrid defender. “We deserved it, we were the team who did the most in the game. I was confident I would score, I wanted to show that. We are very happy, and very proud to be Spanish and to be competing in this sport on the world level.”

A relieved Spanish manager Vicente del Bosque praised his players aftewards. “They made an extraordinary effort. We were very good in extra-time. It was a controlled game, a bit slow. We have fantastic group of players.

“You can say we did not play very well, but not question our character. Jordi Alba was extraordinary, both centre-halves too.”

Del Bosque revealed his penalty strategy: “I looked for people who were confident. Cesc said he wanted to take one which could be decisive.”

With Spain now through to the final, del Bosque isn’t worried about who they will face. “Italy or Germany is the same to me. We have done what we had to do and we will see now.”