Perhaps predictably, it was also a game of disputed challenges, both Torres and Cristiano Ronaldo hurling themselves to the floor and looking frustrated with the referee’s refusal to buy into their drama.  Ronaldo in particular had a very poor game only worth mentioning for the theatricality with which he hit the deck whenever anyone got near him.  At least one was actually a foul, but given the Real Madrid striker’s habit of going down easily the referee can be forgiven for not giving it. 

 

Portugal’s defence was holding strong, and as the half ticked on they became an attacking force to match.  Tiago hit a hefty shot from outside the box which Casillas couldn’t hold onto, and the Madrid keeper had a fight on his hands to reach the dropping ball before Hugo Almeida.  The two clashed in mid-air as Casillas clawed the ball away but the referee, quite rightly, defied convention and refused to give the foul.  A few minutes later Ronaldo, who had already sent one free kick closer to the corner flag than the goal, sent another one swerving and dipping towards Casillas’ goal.  Again the goalie fumbled, and was fortunate the ball ricocheted to a Spaniard as the Portuguese had followed in well.  Almeida then fluffed his lines, getting a poor connection on a relatively routine header and sending it well wide of the post.  The half ended 0-0, with Portugal the better side. 

 

The second half began as the first had ended, with Portugal on the attack.  Almedia broke down the left side of the box.  He checked back before the touchline and looked for the onrushing Ronaldo.  Carlos Puyol made an effort to intercept the cross but the ball flicked up off his knee.  Millions of people momentarily thought it was going in for an own goal, including Casillas, but it dropped just clear of the far post and bounced for a corner.  Spain responded by taking off Torres, who still looks a long way from being fit and happy, and replacing him with Fernando Llorente.  For an unknown reason Portugal took off Almeida at the same time, replacing him with Danny.  Almeida had been Portugal’s most threatening player by far, and the bizarre decision proved pivotal. 

 

Almost immediately Sergio Ramos found space on the left side of Portugal’s defence and threw in a cross.  Llorente stooped for a completely unchallenged header six yards out but put the ball into the ground and straight at Eduardo.  Not long after, the lively Villa bent a shot from outside the box which went just outside Eduardo’s left post.  The breakthrough came only five minutes after the substitutions from Spain playing intricate short passes around the box.  Though they had struggled to create chances in part because of their adamantly patient, short passing style, it provided them with the goal they needed.  Iniesta played a ball through, Xavi got an intelligent flick on the ball to set up Villa.  His first shot was saved by Eduardo but he neatly followed up, clipping the ball over the keeper and in off the underside of the bar.  He was offside when Xavi played the ball to him, but the edge of the box was crowded so it is likely the linesman thought he had latched onto the pass from Iniesta.  It is unlikely that Portugal will receive an apology from Sepp Blatter. 

 

Both Ramos and Villa fired in powerful shots but Eduardo was equal to the task, and didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.  However, with Almeida taken off and Ronaldo behaving like a stroppy tart, Portugal had no response to Spain’s goal.  There was still time for a red card which may or may not have been deserved, as Joan Capdevila clashed with Ricardo Costa, Capdevila ending up on the floor holding his face, and then the side of his head, apparently in agony.  Though initial replays suggested it was a shameless dive, another angle provided confirmation that Costa’s arm had come into contact with Capdevila’s head, though it didn’t look malicious or intentional.  The referee showed no mercy, immediately dismissing Costa as Capdevila writhed on the ground.