Down and out: Ronaldo reacts after Portugal's shoot-out defeat to Spain (Picture: EPA)The Real Madrid star could only watch in agony as Cesc Fabregas’ converted effort gave Spain a 4-2 shoot-out win, which denied him the chance of taking his country’s crucial fifth penalty.
The world’s most expensive player cut a frustrated figure while Spain celebrated, and was widely criticised for not stepping forward sooner in the spot-kick pecking order.
However, despite suggestion he held himself back in the hope of scoring the deciding goal; Ronaldo insists it was all part of a tactical plan.
Crying shame: Ronaldo is comforted by his Madrid team-mate Sergio Ramos (Picture: EPA)'I was going to take the fifth penalty but we missed two,' Ronaldo said.
'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.
Portugal coach Paulo Bento supported his captain’s claim, saying: ‘We lost because Spain were more efficient in the penalties.
‘We had this plan and if it would have been 4-4 and he (Ronaldo) would take the last penalty, we would be talking in a different way.’
