Cesc Fabregas insisted that he had premonition that he would score the winning penalty for Spain again.
The Barcelona star, who came on early in the second-half for Vicente del Bosque’s men and impressed, slotted home the winning penalty against Portugal on Wednesday to send his country to the final of Euro 2012.
It was a repeat for Fabregas after he did the same at Euro 2008 when they beat Italy and he insists he knew what was coming.
“I had intuition and wanted the fifth penalty,” he said after the match.
“I told Toni Grande [Spanish assistant] I thought I could repeat that great moment [from the Italian match].
“They told me intially to take the second one but I said no give me the fifth as I had this premonition.”
Fabregas says he was not happy with how he played, but was delighted to go through.
“I played awful but the team has worked a lot and had the desire,” he said.
“I regret telling my family not to come. I’m very excited.”
Fabregas was seen speaking to the ball before taking his spot-kick and he joked:
“I think I’ve talked to the ball I do not know what I said to the ball.
“I think I said to the ball that we had to make history and it shouldn’t let me down.”
“Being in another final is a miracle, it’s very emotional,” said the midfielder.