Fabregas puts holders into final

Spain progressed to their third consecutive major final with an 4-2 penalty win over Portugal in the Euro 2012 semi-final at the Donbass Arena.


 Despite playing at far from their best and with chances to find the net at a premium, a total of 120 minutes failed to separate the two sides as the game ended 0-0. With the shoot-out level at 3-2 after Bruno Alves rattled the bar it was Cesc Fabregas who netted the winner. 


 Vicente del Bosque sprung a surprise before kick off as he made one change to the side that defeated France in the quarter-finals, electing to start with Alvaro Negredo in attack ahead of both Fabregas and Fernando Torres. 


 His Portuguese counterpart Paulo Bento also made one alteration, his first after naming the same side for their six previous competitive fixtures. 


Helder Postiga was forced to begin among the substitutes with Hugo Almeida deputising in his stead. 


 The Seleccao set about disrupting Spain's rhythm immediately by pressing their opponents high up the pitch. 


It worked for the opening few minutes as La Roja struggled to get their foot on the ball but they soon forged a chance for themselves. 


 Andres Iniesta played a give-and-go down the left flank with Jordi Alba before passing the ball into the box. 


Negredo could not get a shot away but managed to stab it back to the top of the penalty area where Alvaro Arbeloa tried to caress it into the top corner but his attempt flew over the bar. 


 But the Spaniards were by no means dominating and Cristiano Ronaldo was proving difficult for Del Bosque's men to deal with. 


However, two charging runs down the left failed to result in anything to truly test Iker Casillas with a free kick and a wild volley on the spin inside the opening 25 minutes. Bento's men continued their high-intensity pressing and Spain were unable to get the most out of Xavi when on the ball. 


A long delivery forward resulted in an opportunity for Iniesta but he failed to hit the target, and moments later Ronaldo pulled an effort wide of the goal. 


 Spain continued to look uncomfortable on the ball and just nine minutes after the restart Del Bosque had to concede that his pre-match gamble had not paid off as he replaced Negredo with Fabregas. 


 Portugal were getting a lot of joy from putting the Spaniards under pressure in their own half but Almeida failed to make the most of it in the 57th minute. After his side won the ball back he could have passed to Nani or Ronaldo but instead produced an ambitious shot from 35 yards that did not work Casillas. 


 Shortly after the hour mark Spain began to have their best spell of possession in the opposing half but there remained little to separate the two sides as the tension mounted. 


Xavi got the game's first shot on target with a drilled attempt that was straight at Rui Patricio, shortly followed by a Ronaldo free kick that flashed over the bar. 


 In the 90th minute Portugal found themselves in a four-on-one but when the ball was shifted to the left, Ronaldo failed to make a solid connection and blazed his well off target in what was the last opportunity of normal time. 


 As the Seleccao grew tired they were no longer forcing their opponents to play from deep, instead allowing them to control the ball in their own half during much of extra time. 


Del Bosque's side dominated the extra 30 minutes but Rui Patricio brilliantly thwarted both Iniesta and Jesus Navas either side of the interval to ensure the game went to a penalty shoot-out. 


 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, scoring via the post and setting up a date in Kiev for the final with either Germany or Italy on July 1.

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Spain confident of stopping Ronaldo

Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso believes there is no need to make a contingency plan to deal with Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo. 

 Spain have attracted criticism from some quarters for their apparent below-par displays at Euro 2012 so far, but have conceded just once and are the second-highest scorers left in the competition with eight goals. 

 Ronaldo had a lacklustre start to the competition, but has come to the fore in his country's last two games, scoring all three goals and going close to adding more on numerous occasions.

 Alonso, though, believes there is no need for the Spanish camp to become obsessed about his Real Madrid team-mate, and feels the side must defend as a unit and play as they do normally to progress to Sunday's final. 

Do you plan anti-Ronaldo? We have nothing planned, we always play with the same idea independently of the rival," Alonso said. "We can analyse and make small adjustments. 

The best way to stop players is by being together and leaving no spaces. 

Team-mates Sergio Busquets and Xavi agreed, and believe they are capable of reducing Ronaldo's impact when they meet Portugal in the Euro 2012 semi-finals. While the Barcelona pair are aware of the forward's attacking prowess, they are confident they have the ability and personnel to marginalise him. 

It's not Barcelona versus Madrid, it's Spain versus Portugal," Busquets said. 

And we all know what a great player Cristiano is. "He will mostly be in the zone defended by Alvaro (Arbeloa) and Alvaro knows him better than anyone (they are Madrid team-mates). But to stop a player of this kind you need the whole team to work. 

Xavi believes he and his defensive partners can limit the space the former World Player of the Year has to operate in. 

We will have to be very attentive," Xavi said. "We will try to cover as well, (to) make Cristiano uncomfortable and not allow him to turn."

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Ronaldo brushes aside the critics

Portugal attacker Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that he is not troubled by the criticism of his performances for the national team. 

 The Real Madrid man was the subject of scathing attacks after his underwhelming performances against Germany and Denmark in the opening two Group B matches of Euro 2012, but responded well with superb showings against the Netherlands and Czech Republic. 

You can't please everyone. But I don't get angry or frustrated by it," Ronaldo told reporters. 

The bigger star you become, the greater pressure there is on you to perform at a level acceptable to get people off your back. "Even Messi has his critics. 

I accept it as a part of being a professional footballer. It takes a bigger man to ignore it and just get on with playing. 

I don't have an agenda where I set out to appease critics. I just go out and play to the best of my ability.

 Ronaldo then took time to praise the unity within Paulo Bento's squad, and said that the Seleccao's team spirit is the key to their success ahead of a semi-final clash with Spain. 

We're improving and that's important. There is great unity in our squad, we've a good team spirit and that helps," he added. 

It's been difficult to get this far, but we enter this stage with a great deal of optimism no matter who we face in the semi-final. "Our objective now is to reach the final. 

Why not? There's greater pressure on other sides in this tournament and we've been able to progress without excessive expectations. "No matter what happens now we should all be congratulated."

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Di Stefano hails Ronaldo

Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano has heaped praise on Cristiano Ronaldo, who he feels is enjoying a 'fantastic' Euro 2012 campaign.

 The Portugal talisman looked decidedly off the boil in his nation's first two games of the tournament, but has since scored three goals in two games to fire Paulo Bento’s men into the semi finals.

 Reflecting on the winger's performances in Poland and Ukraine, the 85-year-old is delighted to see Ronaldo excel in Poland and Ukraine, but also reserved credit for his team-mates. 

I have not seen all the Euro 2012 matches but Cristiano Ronaldo is having a fantastic competition," Di Stefano told Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias.

He stood out with a great goal against Czech Republic. 

He is a very complete player, a forward who is there to score goals. "Pepe and (Fabio) Coentrao are also having great competitions. Pepe is a phenomenal player.

 Ronaldo's chances of wrestling the Ballon d'Or crown away from Barcelona’s Lionel Messi are set to be increased after a strong tournament, and Di Stefano has backed him for the accolade.

Messi and Cristiano are two of the world's best players, but I want the best in the world to be recognised as a Real Madrid player," Di Stefano said.

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Portugal into semis: Ronaldo nets winner

Cristiano Ronaldo stood up to be counted once again as he lead Portugal into the Euro 2012 semi-finals after a 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic at the National Stadium in Warsaw.

 The Real Madrid star would head home the only goal of the game with 11 minutes to seal a narrow victory for the Seleccao and set up a date with either Spain or France on June 27.

 Both sides seemed reluctant to overcommit in attack in a cautious first-half, though Ronaldo would come closest in first-half injury time with a low drive that rebounded off the post.

 Portugal would attempt to take control in the second-half, sending in a number of shots at Petr Cech's goal, but were largely frustrated in their attempts to breach a Czech defence which had conceded the most goals of any team in the quarter-finals.

 However, Ronaldo would settle affairs with his third goal in the tournament so far that cemented his side's place in the last four clash for the first time since 2004.

 The only change for either side was the inclusion of Vladimir Darida ahead of Daniel Kolar in midfield for the Czech Republic, who also saw captain Tomas Rosicky named as a substitute for the second game running amid concerns over an achilles tendon injury.

 Amid a sizeable fan presence inside the National Stadium, the Czechs just about managed to claim the upper hand during the initial exchanges, as their control of possession restricted Portugal’s enterprise to forays forward on the counter.

 Nevertheless, the first hint of an opening fell to Joao Moutinho after 13 minutes, the Porto midfielder squeezing in a shot on the turn that was comfortably snatched by Cech.

 It was a half-chance at best, and illustrative of the cagey beginning to the match, which saw both sides struggle to really stamp their authority on proceedings.

 Ronaldo appeared to force Cech into action with a powerful drive after racing into the box, but the chance was quickly snuffed out by an offside call.

 Nani and Miguel Veloso were then both booked within minutes of each other after a pair of thumping challenges on Darida and David Limbersky.

 Slowly, Portugal would begin to make an improved contribution to the game, eschewing their long-ball approach for a more concerted offensive effort, with Ronaldo, as ever, at the heart of things.

 The Real Madrid star would go close with an audacious overhead kick that flashed just wide following a struggle by the Czech defence to clear a corner, before sending a 30-yard free kick off target.

 However, the Seleccao were handed a blow with 39 minutes gone when Helder Postiga limped off clutching his hamstring, with Hugo Almedia coming on in his stead.

 The change did not faze Portugal too much however, who went closest to snatching the lead on the stroke of half-time.

 Ronaldo collected Fabio Coentrao’s cross perfectly on the turn, and drilled a low attempt that bounced agonizingly off the base of the post.

 Ronaldo would come close once more a few minutes after the restart, with another long-range free kick brushing off the woodwork via a save by Cech.

 Portugal were looking the superior side as the second-half unfolded, with Raul Meireles sending a pair of efforts over the bar, before Nani forced Cech to parry his low drive towards goal.

 The Chelsea goalkeeper would have to be alert once more to tip over a piledriver from Moutinho at full stretch as the match crossed the hour mark with the Czech Republic struggling to get a sniff of the ball.

 Meireles snatched at an opening from just inside the box, before slipping in Nani, whose deflected effort came close to looping into the top corner.

 But just when it looked like there would be no way through for Portugal, up stepped Ronaldo to bounce a punishing header into the back of the net from a great cross from Moutinho.

 Pereira nearly increased the Seleccao's advantage within moments with a well-taken drive, but Cech was equal to it and expertly tipped wide.

 But Czech Republic's subdued second-half continued as they simply could not find a way back into the match, failing to come close to an equaliser as their tournament ended with a whimper.

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Ronaldo dumps out Dutch

A double from Cristiano Ronaldo ensured that Portugal finished in second place in Group B and condemned Netherlands to an early exit from Euro 2012 as it finished 2-1 in Kharkiv.

 Ronaldo, who had been criticised for his lack of form earlier in the tournament, equalised Rafael van der Vaart's fine curling effort in the first-half and then bagged another with just over 15 minutes to go to seal his side's comeback.

 Apart from a fine early strike from Rafael van der Vaart, Netherlands were poor, ensuring a team considered among the pre-tournament favourites finished bottom of Group B without a point to their name.

 The match was 11 minutes old when Netherlands's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals were given a shot in the arm.

 Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben weaved a path to the edge of the area where Van der Vaart was waiting to steer an inch-perfect finish into the bottom left corner.

 A moment of madness from Gregory van der Wiel almost saw Netherlands concede the advantage but, having inexplicably passed the ball to Helder Postiga, he watched in relief as the Portugal striker shot wide with only Maarten Stekelenburg to beat.

 Stekelenburg then kept out a well-struck header by Ronaldo, who would not be denied in the 28th minute.

 The initial damage was done by Joao Pereira's defence-splitting pass and Ronaldo rewarded his vision with a composed first touch and slick finish. 

Nani missed narrowly, but it was Portugal's captain who was the prominent figure on the pitch as he twice went close to seizing the lead.

 Netherlands's defence was in danger over being over-run with Ronaldo cast at their tormentor in chief with Portugal pushing for a second.

 The Real Madrid forward continued to attack the Dutch early in the second half, but his side should have trailed in the 53th minute.

 Wesley Sneijder crossed from the left to the unmarked Ron Vlaar only for his clumsy attempted header to drift off-target from close range.

 Postiga had a goal disallowed for offside before Fabio Coentrao was denied by sharp reactions from Stekelenburg, who then frustrated Nani from point-blank range after a marauding run by Ronaldo.

 The Portugal wingers combined once again in the 74th minute, and this time Netherlands cracked.

 A swift counter attack ended with Nani feeding a long pass to Ronaldo who dummied his shot, took the ball into space and prodded home.

 Van der Vaart curled an effort onto the right post as Netherlands produced a strong finish, but there was still time for Ronaldo to hit the woodwork.

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Do or die in group of death

World Cup finalists, top scorers in qualifying and one of the favourites to win Euro 2012, the Dutch now stand on the brink of a humiliating early exit from the European Championship.

 After two defeats on the bounce, the Oranje must beat Portugal by two clear goals and hope Germany defeat Denmark in order to escape from Group B.

  No team has ever reached the knockout phase at the Euros after losing their first two matches.

 Throw in the fact that it took Netherlands 46 shots to notch a solitary goal, never mind two, and Bert van Marwijk's side look destined to board an early flight back to Amsterdam. There's dissent in the ranks too.

 Striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar, who topped the Euro 2012 goalscoring charts in qualifying with 12 strikes, and playmaker Rafael van der Vaart have both voiced their frustration at starting games on the bench.

 The latter's exclusion has caused particular consternation in the Dutch media, which has repeatedly questioned the coach's decision to stick with Robin van Persie's wayward shooting during the tournament.

 The Huntelaar vs. Van Persie debate dominated the build up to Euro 2012 and Van Marwijk appears to have backed the wrong striker, even in light of his club form.

 On the plus side, the Dutch have a fully fit squad to choose from and circumstances mean that both front men could be handed a starting role.

 That would result in a rarely seen change of formation for Van Marwijk, with either one of his two beloved defensive midfielders - Mark Van Bommel and Nigel De Jong - or Barcelona winger Ibrahim Afellay making way.

 Portugal, who need a win to be absolutely certain of going through, go into the game having recovered from an opening defeat to Germany with a 3-2 win over group dark-horses Denmark and did so with star-turn Cristiano Ronaldo yet to find top form.

 Pepe, substitute Silvestre Varela and Helder Postiga got the goals against the Danes and the latter is likely to keep his place in attack ahead of Hugo Almeida and Nelson Oliveira.

 Portugal boss Paulo Bento has a fully-fit squad to choose from and should stick with the same XI that featured in Lviv.

 Portugal player to watch: Joao Moutinho. The FC Porto star plays on the left of a midfield three for Portugal but still manages to orchestrate the game from his outside position. He tops the passing stats in terms of attempts and completion for Paulo Bento's side but more importantly he is incisive with his distribution.

 He is the man that creates goalscoring chances for his team-mates and he will be the key to unlocking the Dutch defence.

 Netherlands player to watch: Robin van Persie He may have had more than a quarter of Netherlands' shots, but he has also scored their only goal and is unlikely to be dropped against Portugal.

 His form was such for Arsenal this season that he was selected ahead of the Oranje's top scorer, Huntelaar, and he needs to rediscover his old finesse in front of goal if his side are to bag the two goals (at least) they need to stand a chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

 Key Battle: Fabio Coentrao v Arjen Robben. Real Madrid defender Coentrao has made his name as a marauding full-back but it is his defensive qualities that will be under scrutiny when he faces up to Bayern Munich's Dutch winger.

 Coentrao, 24, has made just a single tackle in the tournament so far and he'll certainly have to improve that statistic against Robben, who has point to prove after being hauled off in Netherlands' 2-1 defeat to Germany.

 Trivia: The last time Netherlands were knocked out at the group phase of the European Championship (1980) was two years after they finished runners-up at the World Cup (1978) - just as they did in 2010. Stats: The Dutch have failed to score in six of their ten meetings with Portugal. 

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