Euro 2012: I didn’t demand ‘glory’ fifth penalty, says Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has denied claims he waited until the fifth penalty because he wanted the glory of securing Portugal’s place in the Euro 2012 final after Paulo Bento’s side were beaten by Spain in the shootout.

After a goalless encounter, Xabi Alonso’s early saved penalty was deemed irrelevant after João Moutinho and Bruno Alves both missed for Portugal, with Cesc Fàbregas placing the decisive spot-kick past Rui Patrício.

It ensured Spain would be competing in their third successive major final and have the chance to defend their European championship crown, while for Ronaldo it was more disappointment at the Euros after losing the final to Greece in 2004.

But the 27-year-old refuted the suggestion he demanded to take the last penalty to have the glory of sending Portugal into the Kiev showpiece, insisting Bento had decided the order of his side’s spot-kick takers.

“I was going to take the fifth penalty but we missed two,” Ronaldo said. “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.”

Portugal manager Bento confirmed the plan had been for Ronaldo to wait until the fifth penalty.

“We had this plan and if it would have been 4-4 and he [Ronaldo] would take the last penalty, we would be talking in a different way,” Bento added.

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Read more on: Cesc Fàbregas, cristiano ronaldo, Euro 2012, paulo bento, portugal, spain, xabi alonso.