Valeron was inventive in midfield throughout (Allsport)

By Richard Gibson, PA Sport

Ousted by the lottery of a penalty shoot-out, Ireland return home with heads held high while Spain progress into the quarter-finals.

But the Irish might have been in the last eight themselves after wresting the initiative from one of the tournament favourites, who were left to hang on for spot-kicks.

Here, PA Sport assesses both sides:

GOALKEEPERS

Shay Given was given no chance by Fernando Morientes' glancing header - but that aside was not tested in the first period. Kept Mick McCarthy's team in the contest within two minutes of the resumption, running out to block another Morientes attempt, and showed his quality when a flailing leg repelled Raul's effort with 20 minutes left.

Opposite number Iker Casillas showed susceptibility in dealing with crosses, highlighted when a 50th-minute fumble led to Fernando Hierro kicking Kevin Kilbane's shot off the line. However, the Real Madrid youngster saved Ian Harte's penalty in normal time comfortably and showed his class with a sprawling late block from Robbie Keane. Helpless to prevent the second spot-kick just before the end of normal time.

DEFENCE

The policy of playing the offside trap was done so successfully, but more by luck than judgement as twice Spain had efforts chalked off when linesmen's flags went against them. But the Spanish threat receded as Ireland found a way into the game and even the loss of captain Steve Staunton did not disrupt them.

Spain's back four, superbly marshalled by captain Fernando Hierro for the most part, allowed few moments of excitement for the masses of Irish support for an hour. The physical presence of Niall Quinn, who arrived as a second-half substitute, changed all that, however, and it was the Sunderland striker's threat that caused Hierro's moment of madness for Robbie Keane's leveller.

MIDFIELD

Out-manoeuvred for much of the match by a technically superior unit from Spain, the Irish quartet refused to give up on any cause and Damien Duff's switch to the right early in the second half provided the creativity previously lacking. McCarthy's adventurous alterations in the second half added extra options going forward and led to Irish domination late on and in extra time.

Ruben Baraja's industry combined with the invention of Juan Carlos Valeron provided an advantage for the Spanish in central midfield until deep into normal time. While Baraja tidied up the loose balls in front of his own defence, the fleet-footed Valeron acted as the coiled spring in Spain's incisive forays forward.

ATTACK

Robbie Keane and Damien Duff got little change from a tight Spanish backline, prompting the introduction of Quinn, a move which swung the advantage towards Ireland. The veteran forward's height and physical attributes offered an outlet to retain possession in the final third of the field.

The Republic looked in for a torrid evening as Morientes stole in front of Gary Breen to convert the first chance of the match from Puyol's centre. However, despite the cunning runs across the Irish defence by Raul, in particular, Spain failed to penetrate regularly or spring the off-side trap.