Penalty win sees Spain cut to 5-6 for more glory

WORLD and European champions Spain are 5-6 to win yet another major tournament after coming through a penalty shoot-out against their Iberian neighbours Portugal on Wednesday night.

Cesc Fabregas scored the decisive spot-kick for Spain, who survived seeing Xabi Alonso have their first penalty saved by Portuguese keeper Rui Patricio as Iker Casillas then saved from Joao Moutinho and Bruno Alves hit the bar.

The teams had been locked together at 0-0 after an absorbing two hours of football in which Portugal got their tactics spot on and harried Spain off their stride.

However, Portugal were unable to get Cristiano Ronaldo into the game as often as they would have wished and their star man even declined to take any of their four penalties in the shoot-out.

Ronaldo exits the tournament level in the goalscoring charts with Mario Gomez on three.

Spain are as short as 8-11 with Ladbrokes to successfully defend their title as they await Germany or Italy in the final, but Hills, bet365 and Blue Square are 5-6.

Vicente del Bosque's side again looked more vulnerable than in past years and may well start the final as outsiders should Germany come through on Thursday night.