Spain beat Portugal to reach Euro final

Reigning champions Spain will get the chance to defend their title after beating Portugal 4-2 on penalties in the Euro 2012 semi-finals to reach the final. After the game was deadlocked 0-0 after 120 minutes, Spain keeper Iker Casillas saved one penalty and Portugal’s Bruno Alves struck the crossbar, setting up Cesc Fabregas hitting the winner in front of 48,000 spectators at Donetsk’s Donbass Arena. Spain - the first winners to return to the final since West Germany in 1976 when they lost on penalties to Czechoslovakia - will now face the winner of  today’s semi-final between Germany and Italy in Sunday’s final in Kiev. The Spanish - into their fourth final after victory in 1964 and loss to France in 1984 - still have a chance to become the first team to defend their Euro title, and with it become the first nation to take three straight major titles. Portugal missed the chance to reach their second Euro final following their 2004 loss to Greece at home. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque made only one change to his line-up but it was a controversial one as he started Alvaro Negredo in attack - instead of either Fernando Torres or Cesc Fabregas - or even Fernando Llorente. Negredo had played just one minute at the tournament so far, coming on in the dying moments of Spain’s 1-0 Group C win over Croatia. Portugal coach Paulo Bento started Hugo Almeida in place of the injured Helder Postiga as the only line-up switch. Spain defender Alvaro Arbeloa had the first chance after nine minutes, shooting just over the bar from the edge of the box. The champs struggled to work through the Portuguese midfield but got a chance after 29 minutes on a long ball over the top, only to see Andres Iniesta curl his shot just over the bar. Portugal were close two minutes later as Cristiano Ronaldo’s low attempt went just wide left. The Negredo experiment ended after 54 minutes with del Bosque bringing on Fabregas for Negredo. Despite Spain ruling possession early in the second half, Almeida twice had chances though neither were on target in the 57th and 59th minutes. Del Bosque made another move at the hour mark, taking off David Silva for Jesus Navas, who scored the late winner in Spain’s 1-0 victory over Croatia. Portugal were in fine position on a set piece after 73 minutes but Ronaldo’s free kick went over the wall but did not dip enough to force Iker Casillas into a save. Another Ronaldo free kick sailed over the bar in the 84th and the Real Madrid star shot well off target on a fine counter attack chance in the 90th minute. Spain missed a golden chance for the lead in the 104th minute as Portugal keeper Rui Patricio made a fantastic save on Iniesta’s shot from close range. And Sergio Ramos sent his shot just over the post in stoppage time of the first half of extra time. Spain shot first and Patricio blocked Xabi Alonso’s shot to the lower right corner. But Casillas held Joao Moutinho’s attemp to the left. Iniesta finally hit the first spot-kick and was followed by converts attempts by Pepe, Gerard Pique, Nani and Ramos. Alves’s penalty struck the cross bar and Fabregas hit into left side for the victory.