Euro 2012: It will haunt Portugal talisman Cristiano Ronaldo: why didn’t he take the first penalty?
Cristiano Ronaldo saw himself in the starring role. He never got out of the wings. He had chosen to take the fifth penalty, in the anticipation that it would be the one to finish off Spain and send Portugal through to the Euro 2012 final. He craved that moment.Instead the glory went to Cesc Fabregas who wheeled away in frantic celebration, mobbed by grateful team-mates. Ronaldo was left impotently mouthing into the night sky. Throughout the shoot-out Ronaldo had cut a tormented figure.
Paulo Bento, the coach, had come to consult him first after the game had gone to a shoot-out. He must have opted to go fifth then, a curious choice for your best penalty taker as it was always a risk it would not get to him. And so it transpired.
As his team-mates stepped up, as Bruno Alves went too early and was intercepted by Nani, Ronaldo stood apart. He was clearly agitated, clasping his hands and looking at the sky while the rest of the squad formed a wall of reassurance. It had all looked good when Rui Patricio saved Xabi Alonso’s first effort — the Portugal goalkeeper had gone up with encouragement from his captain ringing in his ears. But João Moutinho was denied by Iker Casillas. That first penalty – the pressure kick – was the one Ronaldo should have taken.
As it has done throughout his international career, it ended in tears for Ronaldo. Eight years ago he was left bawling on the pitch as Greece suffocated Portugal in the Euro 2004 final in Lisbon and six years ago he lost to France in the semi-final of the 2006 World Cup. As Portugal’s golden generation retired, the results got worse: out in the quarters in 2008, out in the last 16 in 2010. But this year was supposed to be different.Ronaldo came in to the competition off the back of his best season with Real Madrid, a Spanish champion for the first time, 60 goals to his name. As captain, he looked at home in Bento’s slick, well-organised team. They narrowly lost to the brilliant Germans, beat Denmark and then put the Dutch to the sword, Ronaldo running them ragged. Here in Poland and Ukraine there was no irritating Lionel Messi to steal the glory.
The question last night was whether Portugal’s counter-attacking game could expose the best international side in the world?
Could Ronaldo’s exceptional physical and technical gifts spread panic? For much of the first half it looked that way. After he almost made a goal for Nani with an early shot, the Spanish resorted to kicking him. When this happened it prompted a rendition of the Portuguese can-can, the dance of the national team in which every member of the bench leaps to his feet and gestures extravagantly while wearing a piously pained expression. Bento led his troupe with a good line in martyred shoulder-shrugging.
They got plenty of practice. Álvaro Arbeloa and Gerard Piqué sand-wiched Ronaldo on the edge of the area hoping for safety in numbers. When Sergio Ramos was caught alone he had little choice but to block his Real Madrid team-mate’s run. Ramos was booked. Next up was Arbeloa, who Ronaldo left for dead by shifting the ball quickly from foot to foot. Arveloa felled him. Cue can-can. Cue another booking.
Throughout the first half it was clear that the Spanish defence were far from comfortable. Ronaldo holds few mysteries for Ramos and Arbeloa, who train with him every day for Real Madrid, and Barcelona’s Pique is certainly familiar with his work from all those Clásicos. Yet when he is sprinting at you at full speed it doesn’t really matter if he has done it before. You aren’t going to catch him this time.
The small throng of Spanish fans chanted ‘Messi, Messi’ to goad him, especially as the game moved into stoppage time. Ronaldo had just missed a superb chance to put his team into the final. Bento’s team did what they do best, flying forward on a lightning counter. Raul Meireles’s pass maybe could have been a yard or two further in front of him but Ronaldo was given clear sight of goal. He shanked the shot. That brought extra-time.
Ronaldo was fading fast. Portugal were going with him. At half-time in extra time he was the one Portuguese player not to stay on his feet. He ended up watching most of the second half — the one time he got on the ball Alonso hacked him down. Can-can? Yes. Card? Yes. Then followed the shoot-out.
The problem with penalties is that they distort perceptions of players. Has Ronaldo been the most dangerous forward in this tournament? At times he was completely unplayable. Has he returned with his reputation enhanced? No doubt. But those are not the questions that Ronaldo will be turning over in his head for years to come. The question he will ask himself in the night is obvious: why did I not take that first penalty?
