DONETSK, Ukraine -- Still not pretty to watch, still just as effective. Wholesale Jerseys From China . Spain failed to dazzle yet again at the European Championship, but still advanced to its third straight major championship final by beating Portugal 4-2 in a penalty shootout on Wednesday following a 0-0 draw after extra time. "Were playing better in defence than what the characteristics of our players would suggest," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. "Thats what earns victories." After earning plaudits for the eye-catching one-touch passing that helped Spain win titles at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, this years team is struggling to create chances. Against Portugal, the defending champions managed only one shot on target in regulation time. It didnt matter, though, because the Spanish still came through when it mattered. Cesc Fabregas, who came on as a substitute in the second half of regulation time, scored the deciding penalty after Bruno Alves had hit the crossbar for Portugal moments earlier. "I played poorly, but the team worked really hard," Fabregas said. "I had this intuition that we could advance if we went to penalties and thats what we did." Spain will next face either Germany or Italy on Sunday in the final at the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv. Cristiano Ronaldo had several chances for Portugal, but he sent three shots well over the bar as his team held its own for the entire match. The Real Madrid star, who came alive with three goals in his last two matches at Euro 2012, did not take a penalty in the shootout. He had been slated to take the fifth one, but he never got that far. "Our players trained and were prepared for a situation like this," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said. "We didnt have much luck." After an often dour opening 90 minutes in which the Spanish failed to impress, the match livened up in the 30 minutes of extra time. Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta forced Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio into a superb reflex save in the 103rd minute. Iniesta ghosted into the penalty area, then held his head in disbelief as Rui Patricio reacted brilliantly to get a strong hand to his shot after Jordi Alba cut the ball back toward the penalty spot. Rui Patricio made another fine save to deny substitute Jesus Navas in the 111th. "Both teams were stronger in defence in the first 90 minutes, but that balance was broken in extra time," Del Bosque said. Tempers frayed at times, with Portugal centre half Pepe getting a yellow card for a challenge on Xabi Alonso as they went for a high ball. Ronaldo also received some heavy challenges late on. In the shootout, Xabi had the first attempt saved by Rui Patricio. But Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas then saved Joao Moutinhos shot. Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos then all scored for Spain, while Pepe and Nani scored for Portugal. "The first one wasnt so lucky, and then we scored the rest of them," Casillas said. "Yes, we really were lucky. Everything is about luck sometimes." Del Bosque ditched his unorthodox 4-6-0 formation for Wednesdays match and opted for a traditional striker -- but not the one many expected. Instead of Fernando Torres, it was Alvaro Negredo that got the start up front. But 10 minutes into the second half, Del Bosque took him off and replaced him with Fabregas. Although Negredo worked hard, his lack of movement made him easy to mark. Spain improved as Fabregas made clever runs to stretch the defence and the defending champions dominated most of extra time with the addition of Pedro Rodriguez for midfielder Xavi Hernandez late in the match. "I think we were better in the first 90 minutes. Then in extra time we were less efficient," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said. "When we couldnt take advantage of our opportunities, Spain got stronger." Rui Patricio was a big help in goal for Portugal, but much more was expected from Ronaldo. The winger had a chance, albeit a difficult one, to win the game in the 90th minute when Portugal poured forward after clearing a free kick. But Raul Meireles pass was fractionally behind Ronaldo and, with momentum lost, he had to check his run and sent his shot high and wide. Ronaldo briefly threatened early in the first half, whipping over a cross from the left wing that Casillas grabbed before Nani could head it in. He also sent a free kick into the wall after too easily tumbling under a challenge. Working as a unit, Portugal started to gain the upper hand midway through the first half. Moutinho flicked the ball into the path of Ronaldo, whose wild shot flew over. "Everyone helped to control Ronaldo," Del Bosque said. 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"Fabrice Muambas heart condition is stable, but he remains critically ill in intensive care," the London Chest Hospital and Bolton said Monday in a joint statement.MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Bill Snyder didnt have a whole lot to say to No. 7 Kansas State at halftime on Saturday. It wasnt because he was at a loss for material. The Wildcats had stumbled their way through a first half in which everything went right for Kansas -- a faked field goal, a faked punt, a massive advantage in time of possession -- and yet the boys in purple were downright angry about leading the game by only a touchdown. Snyder assumed, and rightly so, that his team could figure things out on its own. The Wildcats came out of the locker room and scored four touchdowns in the third quarter, Collin Klein and John Hubert leading the way, and the big surge carried unbeaten Kansas State to a 56-16 victory and its fourth straight win against its biggest rival. "I think they were angry as much as anything, which is probably the best mental approach and emotion they could have in that situation," Snyder said of the halftime mood. "Im not a mind-reader, but collectively I think they were angry." They certainly took it out on the Jayhawks, too. Hubert finished with 101 yards and four touchdowns rushing. Klein threw for 129 yards and two scores while running for 116 yards and two more touchdowns. Travis Tannahill and Tyler Lockett had the TD receptions, and Daniel Sams added 70 yards rushing when the game was out of reach. The result was a 35-2 second half dominated by the Wildcats (5-0, 2-0 Big 12). "It was like big play after big play," said Kansas coach Charlie Weis, who just like his three predecessors got a rude introduction to the Sunflower Showdown. "It seemed like the third quarter went on forever because they were scoring so quick." Dayne Crist threw for 189 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. James Sims had 115 yards rushing and a touchdown for the Jayhawks. "It really came down to not executing," Crist said. Kansas (1-4, 0-2) certainly executed in the first half. It started with a time-gobbling, 86-yard drive that kept Klein and Co. on the sideline for a good chunk of the first quarter and ended with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tony Pierson. Kansas State answered with a 74-yard touchdown drive of its own, but the Jayhawks -- with a go-for-broke mentality -- pulled back ahead after two audacious plays on special teams. Held to three-and-presumably-out, Weis told Ron Doherty to execute what amounted to a punter draw that went for a first down. Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping. The Jayhawks marched to the Kansas State 23 before they were held again, but this time they faked a field goal, and holder Blake Jablonski threw a pass to defensive end Toben Opurum -- a former running back -- to set up Sims short TD run. "It was kind of crazy there for a little bit," the Wildcats Ty Zimmerman said. Kansas State needed only four plays and just over a minute to answer again. Klein scooted for 27 yards and two plays later hit Lockett in stride for a 34-yard touchdown reception. After holding Kansas to three-and-out -- this time the Jayhawks did punt -- the Wildcats needed only three plays for the fullback-like Klein to barrel into the end zone for 21-14 lead. It looked as if Kansas State might score again just before the half when Crist was intercepted by Nigel Malone, who returned it to the Kansas 5. But Klein burned the Wildcats last timeout with 16 seconds left, and was tackled in bounds on the ensuing play as the clock ran out. Not that it mattered a whole lot. The game quickly got out of hand in the third quarter. Kleins 2-yard touchdown pass to Tannahill made it 28-14, and after Kansas managed a safety, Tre Parmelee fumbled the ensuing kickoff to give the Wildcats the ball back. Hubert made one cut and ran untouched 32 yards for another touchdown and a 35-16 lead. Crist was picked off again on the Jayhawks next possession and, three plays later, Hubert scored from a yard out. Klein added another touchdown run minutes later to make it 49-16. "We made some errors and stuff that just hurts you," Klein said. "We knew they were going to come out fighting. Give them credit in their preparation, but again, I was very proud in how we responded in the second half." The second-half scoring binge allowed Klein to spend the fourth quarter watching from the sideline, a rare luxury in a conference game. Meanwhile, Sams put Kansas State was in position to score again when time mercifully expired. "We kept our composure, and thats what is great about this team. We dont do any name-calling or anything like that," Zimmerman said. "It was a little frustrating what they were doing on us in the first half, but in the second half we started to get some turnovers and that got us moving." ' ' '