Ronaldo rues error-strewn Portuguese spot kick plans

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo has come under some stern fire from soccer critics, as fingers have been pointed at him in the fall out of Portugal’s exit from Euro 2012. After a stalemate in their semi final encounter against defending European and World Champions Spain, and with extra time failing to produce a winner, the match was sent to a penalty shoot out. A penalty shoot out in which Ronaldo, the man Portugal were looking to to make a difference in the match, didn’t even get to take a spot kick. Paulo Bento, coach of the Portuguese national side, said that their plans had always been to put their star player and captain, Cristiano Ronaldo in as the fifth penalty taker. As Portugal missed two kicks from the spot, Spain converted their chances and Ronaldo did not get the chance to step up to the plate and make his mark for his country.

Questions will continue to be asked about Ronaldo’s role in the penalty shoot out. Why, as a captain, would he not have stepped up to take the first or second penalty? The 27 year old Real Madrid star, is arguably their best penalty taker, their most talent player, period, and for a captain not to lead from the front, raises questions about his leadership qualities. England’s captain Steven Gerrard had stepped up to take the first penalty kick in their quarter final shoot out against Italy, so why Ronaldo held back, remains a mystery. The fifth penalty kick can often be the high pressured moment which can settle shoot-outs, but there is equally as pressure on getting your side off to a good start. That is where Portugal needed Ronaldo.

Being their talismanic leader, Ronaldo was unable to stamp his indomitable influence throughout the game, and he was cutting a frustrated figure throughout. But while Ronaldo did not even get the chance to take a penalty for his country, further confusion in the penalty shoot out had reigned, when Bruno Alves had stepped up to the take the second Portuguese spot kick. Defender Alves had made the long walk from the centre circle, but was then called back and Manchester United’s Nani sent forward to take the kick. Nani converted his spot kick, but when Alves went up to take the fourth kick for Portugal, he never looked comfortable on his approach and smashed his effort against the bar. That opened the door for Spain’s Cesc Fabregas to converted to send Spain through to the final of Euro 2012.

The fact is, that Ronaldo was at the back of the line, following two of Portugal’s centre halves in the shoot-out, and Ronaldo stepping up earlier in the spot-kick contest, would no doubt have given his country a more confident role. The irony perhaps is that Portugal will have been happy to take the match to penalties against their higher profiled Iberian neighbours in the semi final’s of a major tournament, from the start. But the bottom line is then, why weren’t they more prepared, why did Ronaldo shy away? Apparently the plan was for Ronaldo to step into the spotlight with the shoot-out poised at 4-4, and then under the pressure, he would have carried the hopes of the nation on his shoulders. But he, and Portugal shot themselves in the foot when he decided to wait for glory. Sometimes, it just does not come along, and that is how opportunities get missed.