DONETSK, UKRAINE — There seems to be no reason to doubt Spain’s march toward greatness will not end in glory at Euro 2012.
And to think that up until four years ago, Spain was best remembered for falling apart under pressure, for failing to rise up when circumstances merited it.
Not now, as evidenced by Spain’s penalty shootout win over Portugal. This team’s ability to pull out clutch victories is simply astounding, and a mark of a team that is on the cusp of stamping its place in football’s history books as perhaps the greatest ever.
But there is still the matter of Sunday’s final against either Germany or Italy in Kiev.
Spain certainly struggled to overcome a physical Portugal side, with Cristiano Ronaldo and company disrupting the world champions’ normally neat and efficient passing game. Spain was rattled in the first half, and that frustration boiled over as the teams took to the tunnel at halftime, with Sergio Ramos and Nani being separated by players as their conversation exchange grew heated. Portugal’s tactics — nasty at times — were working.
Coach Vicente del Bosque erred in choosing Alvaro Negredo to lead Spain’s attack, and the Sevilla striker’s exit for Cesc Fabregas in the 54th minute certainly started Spain’s turnaround.
By the time Jesus Navas and Pedro Rodriguez had come on to play down the flanks and open up the field for Spain’s passing game, the turnaround was complete and it only seemed a matter of time before the Spanish would prevail.
Because, simply put, this Spain always seem to prevail.
Portugal coach Paulo Bento spoke of his team’s lack of luck. Sure, Spain is getting some favorable bounces and some of that luck that comes with being champion. But Bento cannot rue with his team unable to take advantage of clear scoring opportunities that probably would have seen it prevail.
Striker Helder Postiga’s presence was certainly missed as Hugo Almeida made a mess of his chances, while Ronaldo couldn’t have asked for a grander stage to leave his mark on, beating Spain and all of its Barcelona players.
But the Real Madrid star’s own ego seemed to prevail again, and that is why he hasn’t matched the success of his Spanish opponents. Even a second Ballon d’Or is no certainty.
Ronaldo looked up at himself on the big screen above Iker Casillas’ goal as he lined up for a second half free kick. Instead of focusing on his shot, Ronaldo stroked his hand through his hair to change his look and the free kick subsequently flew over goal. Ronaldo, whose wicked shooting has scored some of the Spanish league’s most memorable goals this season, didn’t come close on three free kicks from just outside Spain’s area, normally his feeding ground.
And to see him opt to take Portugal’s fifth penalty proved ridiculous, as Portugal’s top player watched helplessly as Spain advanced on penalties.
Fabregas, meanwhile, asked to take the fifth penalty not to hog the glory, but because destiny seemed to want it that way.
“I had an intuition. In the afternoon I was thinking about it, that I would have a unique opportunity and I told (assistant coach) Toni Grande that I didn’t want to shoot second, that I wanted to shoot fifth,” a beaming Fabregas said at the Donbass Arena.
Fabregas’ intuition was for the good of the team, something that Spain has showed time and again that is perhaps their greatest quality. Super stars that deflect attention and focus on the job at hand. While it’s not always pretty — as shown in the first 60 minutes — Spain’s play is effective and reliable, and also inspiring when it finds space as shown in extra-time when it came so close to breaking the deadlock.
Perhaps Spain is lacking the dazzle we all expect, but it has never really routed opponents in the elimination stages of the past three major tournaments. It has outscored rivals 10-0 in the last nine knockout round games, and that includes a 3-0 win over Russia four years ago. Its defence has been remarkable and Casillas again showed why he is the world’s best goalkeeper in the shootout and his leadership during the tetchy semifinal.
Spain has a chance now that comes along once in a lifetime and, if it takes advantage, there will be little argument against its place as the greatest.
Paul Logothetis is a Madrid-based reporter who is in Poland and Ukraine covering Euro 2012 for sportsnet.ca. Follow Paul on Twitter.