Fabregas reveals penalty trick

Spanish star's mind games with Buffon

By Vasek Kadlec   Last updated: 24th June 2008

Cesc Fabregas Spain

Fabregas: Penalty relief

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Cesc Fabregas has admitted that he changed tact when taking Spain's decisive penalty against Italy.

The Spain midfielder slotted home the crucial spot-kick in the quarter-final contest, sending his side through to a semi-final showdown with Russia.

Despite displaying nerves of steel on the night, the Arsenal man admits that he changed his mind at the last moment, something penalty takers are always advised not to do.

"I expected the Italian goalkeeper, (Gianluigi) Buffon, knew from our training sessions that I kept putting the penalties to the left side," Fabregas told MF DNES.

"So I decided late that I would put it to the right."

Coincidence

Fabregas also revealed that he not taken a penalty prior to Sunday's last eight contest since he was 15-years-old.

That revelation makes his decision to put himself forward for his country's fifth, and most nerve-wracking, effort all the more remarkable.

"It was just a coincidence," he said calmly.

"Maybe the penalty looked like the toughest as it was also the decisive one. But if my team-mates had not scored from the previous ones, then I might not have taken one at all.

"We came here to win the whole tournament and this was another step towards it.

"I think football is a fair game where the better team wins on most occasions. That was exactly what happened on Sunday and it has helped to boost our confidence."

Compensation

Fabregas has started just one game in the tournament so far, the dead rubber with Greece in the group stages, but insists that he is happy to continue making an impact from the bench.

"It is difficult to get in the team during a big competition," he added.

"You will certainly admit that we have great players in midfield. But I am ready to perform at my best if the coach points to me and tells me: 'I need you'.

"Some people have questioned my role in the team and that is why that crucial penalty was compensation for me."