I was asked to take the fifth kick: Ronaldo

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that he agreed to take the fifth penalty in the shoot-out in his side's Euro 2012 semi-final defeat to Spain.

The Seleccao lost the match after Joao Moutinho and Bruno Alves both failed from the spot, with Ronaldo — who usually takes their penalties — not having had the chance to beat Iker Casillas. “I was going to take the fifth penalty but we missed two,” said Ronaldo. “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.

I hope Spain win the tournament now because I have a lot friends there and I play there and it will be a tough final for them.

“It felt very normal playing against Real Madrid players. On the pitch we are not friends, but outside we are.”u00a0

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