Four years ago must have been on Joao Moutinho's mind as Portugal and Poland's Thursday night quarter-final ticked towards penalties.
When Portugal went out to Spain in a Euro 2012 semi-final penalty shootout, the midfielder was the first Portuguese player to face Iker Casillas. After Xabi Alonso had hit the post with Spain's first kick, up stepped Moutinho. His penalty was saved by Casillas. That was the shootout where Cristiano Ronaldo - named as Portugal's fifth penalty taker - famously did not get a chance to take one of his side's kicks.
Against Poland, Moutinho - who had come on as a 73rd minute substitute - was reluctant to take that long walk from the centre circle to the penalty spot. The Monaco player had to be convinced to take one by his captain.
Video has emerged of how Cristiano Ronaldo motivated Moutinho.
Hey! Hey! Come kick, come kick. Come. You hit them well! If we lose then [expletive] it!
Be strong! Come on! Be strong! You hit them well, come on!
It's in God's hands now!
After the game, Portugal manager Fernando Santos had revealed how Ronaldo earned the captain's armband that night.
Fernando Santos: "Moutinho usually is one of the penalty takers, but he felt uncomfortable. Ronaldo encouraged him." pic.twitter.com/jD40wComTV
— Jan Hagen (@PortuBall) July 4, 2016
In normal time, Moutinho has a good record as a penalty taker. Of the 14 he has taken in his career, he has scored 11.
Portugal won Thursday night's shootout 5-4 with Moutinho taking his team's third kick.
Here's the video.
How Cristiano motivated and encouraged João Moutinho to take a penalty in the shootout vs Poland. Grande Capitão! pic.twitter.com/sAMVWPSIPa
— Jan Hagen (@PortuBall) July 4, 2016
h/t Jan Hagen
