Champions luck guided Spain towards the final of EURO 2012

             
Cesc Fabregas put the final nail in the Portugese coffin in Spain’s 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over Portugal following a goalless draw in scheduled 90 minutes & added 30 minutes in the first semifinal of the EURO 2012 at Donbass Arena, Donetsk lastnight, setup an encounter for the grand finale with either Germany or Italy in Kiev on 1^st July. Back to back three major finals for Spain, if they can win it they would be the first team in the history to bag the back to back UEFA title following their win in 2008, also they will hold the record of winning back to back three major titles in world football history including FIFA world cup win of 2010.

          It has to be told few poor decisions & poor team selections of Spanish coach Vincente Del Bosque push the match towards tie-breaker, when experts were thinking that Del Bosque will start with the best eleven then he had shown the daringness of putting Fernando Torres & Cesc Fabregas in the reserve bench at a time, Vincente Del Bosque shows the luxury of not using his number one striker Fernando Torres throughout the entire game even not as a substitute also. It is not clear yet why did he bring Pedro & Jesus Navas ahead instead of Fernando Torres. Del Bosque had hoped to pose Portugal centre-backs Pepe and Bruno Alves a more physical conundrum, yet a bluntness was taking hold whenever his team moved forward, from there only the champions luck guide Spain towards the final of the EURO 2012.
         Just before the pre-match session all the hopes of Portugese side were revolving around Real Madrid superstar Cristano Ronaldo, regarding his match winning ability comparison going on everywhere with the Argentine sensation Lionel Messi, Ronaldo himself could put the curtain forever in this issue by guiding his side towards a memorable victory in here, but he became as usual in-vain in mega-event in here once again, even he hesitated to take the shot in the penalty shoot-out also.

         It has to be told once again that genuine opportunities were quickly draining from the game. Ronaldo was unable to trouble Casillas with a trio of free-kicks before his best chance – the chance to settle the contest in normal time – came in the final minute. Raul Meireles broke through the middle and there, unmarked to his left, was his colleague. With Del Bosque surely fearing a missile into the top corner, Ronaldo sliced high and wide.

        That miss was responsible to take the match into extra time and Rui Patricio made the first notable save of the evening when he sprawled left to deny Iniesta at point-blank range following Jordi Alba's cut-back. The Portugese goalkeeper also had to move quickly to his right to thwart Navas in the second period. The deadlock was not broken even after the end of 120 minutes guided the match towards the penalty shoot-out.

        Amazingly Iker Casillas won both of the tosses of choosing the corner of the ground & who will take the penalty first. Both teams got off to the worst start possible as Patricio and Casillas both saved from Alonso and Moutinho respectively. Iniesta, Pepe, Pique, Nani and Ramos all scored - including a 'Panenka' from the latter - before Bruno Alves hit the bar to make the score 3-2 to Spain after four spot-kicks each. It offered Fabregas the chance to book their spot in the final and he obliged & sealed the game scoring via post.

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