They let themselves down.... Nani.... I don't think he provided any cross in to the penalty area.... Ronaldo was closely marked by spanish players when ever he trigger a run he is blocked or fouled. Fabio coentrao was outstanding, rui patricio, ronaldo and moutinho had a good game but rest all played average and some below average.... !

If Nani would have played upto his standards then portugal would have won surely.... Ronaldo was closely marked so if Nani could provide some threat from other flank then it would probably split spain defence instead Nani was always muscle out by spanish. Hugo Almieda had some useless shots at goal and not even one on target and was usually seen chasing the ball.

In the penalty shootouts giving defenders chance ahead of likes of Ronaldo was good idea but it backfired. Casillas would have seen enough of Ronaldo in training so he knows where he is going to put it but he haven't seen much of pepe in penalties. Also Ronaldo recent penalty form would have affected the decision.


As for people who thinks spain's game is boring I agree with you guys. They just pass, pass and pass and scoring goals is just a formality to them. They kill many goal scoring opportunities in this way. Barcelona also play similar game but they are focussed on attack. There player are passing to create a move that ends at back of the net but Spainish team just pass to hold possession and create fewer opportunities then Barca. Its annoying to watch repeated passes between Iniesta and Alba no. Of times just to keep possession. Not playing a striker like torres and playing a false striker is rubbish theory. If you have midfielders that can score goals then there is no need for strikers. Why you bring them with the squad....

Germany got to be the favourites now, why didn't he start Torres?

Good game from portugal, although the fact remains that to unseat a champion team like spain you have to go and TAKE it because they will not just give you the game. Unfortunately ronaldo was not able to take his opportunities with free kicks.... Kudos to portugal for a great tournament

Does anyone else enjoy watching the 'tiki taka' approach to football? I certainly do. But then again, I am a very boring person (I also enjoy opera, for example)

Great game, I like how portugal came out and attacked, But I really didn't get their penalty shout out line up, they should ve started strong from the beginning with either ronaldo or nani, but great job from spain, tremendous team, that has proven why their number 1

Why is spain getting this much hating? I got to watch the game without having a favourite. And spain beat mine (croatia), in fact I was expecting portugal to win after such a good run in the previous games.

But after watching so many false referee descisions (namely that ronaldo dive at the left side of the box, which gave him the chance for a good free kick), and SO MANY portugese divers, i've come to conclusion that portugal would've actually won if they did go for the ball instead of going for the ground.

They're such pussies. Always been. Terrible to watch. If you really wanna win, at least go for the ball and stop simulating all the f*****g time. I counted 3 dives from ronaldo (very dissapointing by a player of his stature), and several other players. It was a f*****g dive-fest, anyone notice? Almost unbearable to watch.
Can't have a team like this in the finals, so I'm glad spain won in the end

Maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if Spain didn't win the final. It could give them a bit of a kick up the arse. They played phenomenal in the last Euro and did enough in the world cup. I just feel that there potential is higher but as they are still able to beat teams playing the way they are, its enough for them.

Looking forward to see the likes of Thiago, Munian, and Cuenca make more appearances. I think Del Bosque is doing what every manager, even the best, end up doing sooner or later, and playing the team he believes is the safest to do the job. Eventually this kind of mentality catches up with you and you stagnate and get punished. Seen it over and over again.

People who think Spain play like Barca are not completely right. Barca have players who's style of play is direct (Messi, Pedro, Sanchez, Tello) and without these players they couldn't change the pace of the game at will. Spain need this, I think Munian should be starting. Also a side note, I don't rate Navas. Old-fashioned style winger doesn't fit there game. He must have an in with Del Bosque or something...

LOL xabi alonso! Nice try from half field again! Would love to see those more!

People that aren't Spain fans are just getting sick of seeing Spain win everything. But they are just the best at what they do now. You play sport to win and that's what they do, they're not out their busting their assess off to entertain a bunch of rivals fans they're doing it to win for they're country

IN MY opinion: Ronaldo should have taken the first PK and this would have put portugal players at ease to take the next ones. Your best player should go first. But since he didn't this means THAT messi takes THE player OF theyear award again 4 years IN A ROW. SAD for ronaldo but happy as can be for messi

@10:50 - I don't speak Portuguese, but I think I know what CR is saying: "Shoulda gone first, dammit; I should've gone first.... "

Euro is turning into a boring event. Penalty shoot outs are the worst. They hardly reflect who the better team was in open play

I didn't watch the whole match but I think both team played awesome. Shame Ronaldo didn't get the chance to take that last penalty.

What was he murmuring about when the team losses at 6:03?

Ronaldo culd have switched it like nani did

I swear, Raul Meireles looks like a combination of Edward Norton from American History X and Birdman from the Denver Nuggets