Iberia Separated By Penalties

Portugal line-up: Rui Patricio, Pepe, Pereira, Alves, Coentrao, Meireles, Veloso (Custodio, 105'), Moutinho, Almeida (Oliveira, 81'), Ronaldo (c), Nani
Spain line-up: Casillas (c), Ramos, Pique, Alba, Arbeloa, Xavi (Pedro, 87'), Busquets, Silva (Navas, 61'), Alonso, Iniesta, Negredo (Fabregas, 54')    

Spain become only the second nation to progress into three consecutive major tournament finals. With the tournament no having a 0-0 draw until Sunday, and now we've had two in two games. With two nations whose attacking force is much better than their defending, the anticipated skill-fest didn't quite happen and we were treated to two hours of extremely cagey football.

By the end, it was no surprise to see the game roll into the penalty shoot-out which would be the most exciting part of the semi-final. With no goals throughout the game, perhaps it was no surprise to see Xabi Alonso and Joao Moutinho's initial efforts saved by the keepers. We finally got the first goal of the contest when Andres Iniesta and Pepe made it 1-1.

Gerard Pique then stepped up for Spain and made it 2-1. There was slight drama as Bruno Alves looked to be taking the third penalty but Nani jogged up to send the defender back. Nani smashed his effort into the top corner before Sergio Ramos did an Andrea Pirlo to make it 3-2. This time it was Alves to step up but nerves got the better of him and he hit the crossbar. Cesc Fabregas converted Spain's fifth and final effort to go through without Cristiano Ronaldo taking a penalty.

Not for the first time this tournament, question marks were raised over Vicente Del Bosque's team selection. With Fernando Torres and Fernando Llorente in good form, the Spanish coach decided to start with Alvaro Negredo. Unsurprisingly, Negredo provided very little and was substituted just nine minutes into the second half, but not for either the Fernandos but for Fabregas.

The first half saw Spain get extremely rattled by the pressure Portugal were putting on them. Spain did have more of the possession but it was mainly in their own half and around the half-way line. Portugal looked the more menacing with Fabio Coentrao, Ronaldo and Nani providing crosses that required Iker Casillas to collect.

At the other end, Pepe was in ominous form, clearing everything that came his way. This included the un-Spain like tactic of lumping the ball long. The best chance for Spain came just before the half hour mark when Iniesta was found via the long ball, he tried a curler which looked have beaten Rui Patricio, but it landed just on the roof of the net.

Ronaldo had Portugal's best chances of the first half, but Casillas wasn't called into action for either of the efforts as the sailed high or wide. The second half had even fewer chances but Hugo Almeida was guilty of wasting two opportunities, he decided to shoot from 25-yards from a counter attack when Ronaldo and Nani were either side of the striker. He then decided to shoot from impossible angles which again relieved Spain of any pressure.

Ronaldo then had the best chance of the half in injury time when Portugal broke four on two. Raul Meireles found the Madrid man who was now seemingly through on goal, but the Portugal captain fired horrendously over the bar and the game headed into extra time.

Spain suddenly found their rhythm in the extra half hour and if anyone was going to win it in extra time, it was them. The best chance came just before half-time when Iniesta tried placing a shot from eight yards but it was fantastically saved by Patricio. The other chance before half-time saw Ramos curl a free-kick just over the bar. The second half didn't see many more chances and the game was destined for penalties which Spain squeezed through.