One man’s hero is another’s villain in the high-octane world of modern football and Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo resolved that he only wanted to be the former at Euro 2004.Long before England star David Beckham placed the ball on a lumpy penalty spot in yesterday’s quarter-final, Ricardo had vowed that he would be the hero of the day.Beckham duly sent the first attempt of a nervous penalty shootout high and wide before Ricardo’s two moments of glory came in quick succession.First he hurled himself to his left to block Darius Vassell’s effort.Then he grabbed the ball and smote home the goal that shattered England and propelled Portugal into a semi-final. “It was probably the most important save I have ever made and it came in one of Portugal’s most important ever matches,” said the Sporting Lisbon shot-stopper, strangely sanguine as he prepared to board the team bus to drive off into a night of celebration. “You can watch as many videos as you like. But when you’re standing there in front of the ball it’s basically instinct,” he said of his save from Vassell. “I was just so happy to stop that shot.“As for taking the penalty afterwards I had already decided I would take one,” explained the 28-year-old Ricardo who has made the Portuguese national jersey his own.
