Euro 2012: Cristiano Ronaldo curses bad luck after Portugal crash out
Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his frustration after Portugal were knocked out of Euro 2012 by Spain on penalties, but insists he was content with his own contribution.
After a goalless 120 minutes in the semi-final, Spain won the shoot-out 4-2 with Ronaldo, scheduled to take the fifth kick, looking on. The Real Madrid star was not at his best during the game, and missed a fine chance to win it at the end of normal time.
He told O Jogo: “It’s always painful losing on penalties but penalties are always a lottery and the one who has the best luck wins. We’re going out a bit frustrated because we could have gone to the final but we were unlucky.
“I gave my best as I always have done and that’s why I am happy with my own contribution. We must be proud because we played well but we didn’t have the luck we needed.”
He later confirmed to the Portuguese TV network SIC: “I was going to take the next [penalty], but we missed two.
“It was just a question of me speaking with the coach. He said to me, ‘Do you want to take the fifth one?’ and I said ‘yes’. Sometimes I take the first, the second or the third. I agreed to take the fifth.
“I hope Spain win the tournament now because I have a lot friends there and I play there and it will be a tough final for them. It felt very normal playing against Real Madrid players. On the pitch we are not friends, but outside we are.”
Asked why Ronaldo, the world’s most expensive player, did not step up to take a penalty, the Portugal coach Paulo Bento
Category: Sports
