I gave my best – Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo insisted he was going home with his head held high after Portugal were knocked out of Euro 2012 by Spain on penalties.

After a goalless 120 minutes, Spain clinched their place in the final by winning the shoot-out 4-2 with Ronaldo, apparently having been scheduled to take the fifth penalty, watching on.

The Real Madrid man was not at his best but showed glimpses of form and also missed a great chance to clinch the match for Portugal in the dying moments of normal time.

He said: “It’s always painful losing on penalties but penalties are always a lottery and the one who has the best luck wins. It was a good Euro. We played the four best teams. We’re going out a bit frustrated because we could have gone to the final but we were unlucky.

“I gave my best as I always have done and that’s why I’m happy with my own contribution. We must be proud because we played well but we didn’t have the luck we needed.”

The match itself failed to live up to expectations with Portugal shading the first period but clear chances few and far between, with Xavi and Andres Iniesta missing the best chances for the favourites.

Ronaldo made little impact though he clearly worried the Spaniards from free-kicks, and almost wrote the headlines in the last minute when he was put through in the left side of the box but wasted his chance.

Portugal coach Paulo Bento said: “I think we were the better team but we couldn’t take our chances.

“Spain were stronger in extra-time but we could have won it in the first 90 minutes because we were very good in the first half and at the end of the second half.

“If I had to choose a way of losing I wouldn’t choose this one but you have to lose some way, and Spain are a great team.”