Spain out to neutralise Ronaldo again

Spain are going to pay special attention to Portugal's star player and captain Cristiano Ronaldo as they look to neutralise Wednesday's semi-final opponents' chief threat.

"We will be taking special care of Cristiano Ronaldo," said coach Vicente del Bosque, noting that the Spanish had managed to do just that in their round of 16 success over Portugal at the last World Cup.

On that occasion, Ronaldo was unable to turn things around as David Villa, missing from the Spanish squad through injury this tournament, scored the only goal.

"It won't be an individual (marking) thing, there will be permanent help as there was two years ago," Del Bosque told Cope radio referring to the defence in general trying to keep Ronaldo quiet.