Fabregas gives Spain edge on ugly night

Come back England, all is forgiven.

Days after Roy Hodgson’s side went home with the derision of football purists ringing in their ears, Spain and Portugal showed the ugly side of the beautiful game in their semi-final in Donetsk last night.

Once again a match that could have been a showpiece for two of the world’s most sumptuous sides turned into a stalemate, before Spain went through on penalties, with Cesc Fabregas converting the winning spot-kick.

In the end, that Spain won, after 90 minutes and extra-time could not produce a goal, hardly mattered so poor were both sides. The fact there were more bookings than shots on target said it all, and those critics of Spain’s approach gained more fuel for their arguments.

At least the Portuguese went for it, and would have won in normal time if Cristiano Ronaldo had remembered to bring his shooting boots.

When the Real Madrid superstar was not being cynically tripped or body-checked, often by his club team-mates, he was firing the ball here, there and everywhere — except in the goal.

Three free-kicks from the sort of range he loves came to nought — two over the bar and another into the wall.

And in the dying minutes of normal time, Ronaldo had a golden chance to put his country into the final but blazed his shot high and wide.

But chances were few and far between. Alvaro Arbeloa should have put Spain ahead in the ninth minute but blazed his shot over the bar from 20 yards. That set the tone for the rest of the game.

Andres Iniesta, Spain’s best player, went close with two long shots over the bar and one close-range effort brilliantly turned away by Rui Patricio in extra-time.

Ronaldo hit a spectacular volley on the turn high over the bar, and then shot just wide of the post on the half-hour mark after Joao Pereira seized on a loose ball.

Sergio Ramos was first into the referee’s book after obstructing Ronaldo as Portugal tried to break quickly, and Fabio Contrao followed him soon afterwards. It started to turn ugly after half time, as the game got scrappy, with Sergio Busquets and Pepe also booked, the Portuguese defender for laying out his Real Madrid team-mate Xabi Alonso on the hour mark.

By then del Bosque had sent on Fabregas in place of the disappointing Alvaro Negredo, but the former Arsenal man soon shot an effort over the bar. Hugo Almeida went close twice for Portugal in the second half, and then Xavi shot straight at Patricio from a good position.

Ronaldo’s miss as Portugal broke quickly in the 89th minute condemned the game to extra-time.

Chances came and went begging, with Patricio saving well from Jesus Navas as Spain finally showed some attacking intent.

But once again it came down to penalties.

Xabi Alonso had the first kick for Spain saved by Patricio, but then Iker Casillas saved Joao Moutinho’s first for Portugal.

Iniesta and Gerard Pique both scored for Spain, while Pepe and Nani did the same for Portugal to make it 2-2.

Sergio Ramos put Spain ahead with a cheeky chip — a la Pirlo — and when Bruno Alves hit the bar with Portugal’s next kick, the Spanish took a 3-2 lead. Fabregas stepped up to ram the ball home off the inside of Patricio’s right-hand post, and Spain were through to their third successive final. Let us just hope it will be more memorable than this.

* Bert van Marwijk last night stepped down as Netherlands coach, the Dutch FA announced.

The 60-year-old’s resignation follows a disappointing showing at Euro 2012, in which Oranje were knocked out at the group stage without taking a point.

Subs for Portugal: Oliveira for Alemeida 80, Custodio for Veloso 105, Varela for Meireles 111.

Subs for Spain: Fabregas for Negredo 54, Navas for Silva 70, Pedro for Xavi 85.