Euro 2012 is over for Portugal...

photo credits: The Soccer Room

Portugal has been eliminated from the 2012 European Championship, falling to the World Champion Spain on penalties. There were 93 minutes of normal time, during which the momentum ebbed and flowed but neither side was sufficiently incisive to muster up a goal. Portugal did far more than contain our neighbours, who were decidedly off the boil until late on, but in football’s cruellest psychological lottery, our Seleção came up short. The Seleção set about their work with purpose and, crucially, cohesion, in a first half display that largely confounded the World and European Champions. The early pace was ponderous, which suited Portugal’s counter-attacking stylings.

The other major talking point in the build-up to the match had been the proposition of Pepe, Fábio Coentrão and Cristiano Ronaldo coming up against a number of their club mates. The latter was of course given particular attention, and with twelve minutes played, the Portugal captain entered the game, surging down the left flank and forcing an interception from Iker Casillas. At the halfway point of the first half, the Selecção were very much ahead on points. 

photo credits: Euro Cup Pictures

It was then that the asphyxiating possession for which Spain is famed began to increase. Although Portugal continued to present a live threat on the counter, Del Bosque’s side were able to control the game to greater effect during the middle period of the half. Yet Portugal was anything but willing to simply soak up the pressure, and responded once again with an incisive move of their own on the half hour mark. Spain’s riposte – a pair of mis-hit passes from Piqué and Silva – provided a neat illustration of the half: Portugal assured and controlled, Spain (even with some questionable decisions from the Tukish referee Cüneyt Çakir) seemingly harried, and some way short of their best.  Portugal continued to persevere, without ever losing their shape or throwing caution to the wind. And so, to penalties: football’s ultimate revenge on those foolish enough to pin their hopes and dreams on the fortune of 22 men chasing a spherical object around a field... Which is to say, all of us! At such a time, nerves are all that matter. Portugal lost 2-4 on spot-kicks but we are all VERY, VERY PROUD of our SELEÇÃO! They did their best and fought like HEROES. 

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