Soccer Euro 2012 Spain Portugal
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is hugged by head coach Paulo Bento after losing the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal mat...
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is hugged by head coach Paulo Bento after losing the penalty shootout of the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Spain and Portugal in Donetsk, Ukraine, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Soccer Euro 2012 Spain Portugal
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo stands dejected after his team lost the penalty shootout at the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Sp...
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo stands dejected after his team lost the penalty shootout at the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Spain and Portugal in Donetsk, Ukraine, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Soccer Euro 2012 Spain Portugal
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after a penalty shootout in the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Spain and Portugal in Donet...
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after a penalty shootout in the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Spain and Portugal in Donetsk, Ukraine, Thursday, June 28, 2012. Spain beat Portugal 4-2 in penalty shootout after the match finished 0-0 following extra time. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Cristiano Ronaldo watched helplessly as the penalty shootout drama passed him by.
The Portugal captain, and star attraction at the European Championship, stood slightly apart from his teammates on Wednesday as they watched Spain advance to the final. The defending champions won the shootout 4-2 after a 0-0 draw.
Ronaldo never even got to take his kick.
Ronaldo was fifth in line to step up to the spot _ a strategy rendered worthless when the Spanish, who kicked first, sent their fifth man Cesc Fabregas to seal victory.
However, Portugal coach Paulo Bento says "I don't regret anything" about the order of penalty takers.
Bento says: "We had defined before what would be the best conditions to succeed."