OTD in 2004: Ricardo took one of the best penalties ever from a GK to break England's hearts

On June 24, 2004, Ricardo played a pivotal role as Portugal dumped England out of Euro 2004.

The two sides played out a classic in their quarter-final tie.

Michael Owen gave England an early lead. Helder Postiga netted a late equaliser to send the game to extra-time.

Rui Costa thought he’d won it in extra-time with a brilliant strike, but Frank Lampard found the net late on to force penalties.

It was a topsy-turvy shootout with momentum swaying to-and-fro.

But it was Portugal who won it after Rodrigo’s legendary antics.

With the scoreline 5-5 on penalties, Darius Vassell stepped up in sudden death.

Bizarrely, Ricardo took off his gloves as he saw the England forward approaching. His mind-games worked as he dived the right way and kept Vassell’s spot-kick out.

Ricardo then stepped up to the mark himself and knew a successful penalty would send Portugal through.

And he managed to do just that as he took one of the greatest penalties ever from a goalkeeper. Ricardo absolutely leathered the ball into the bottom corner and well beyond the reach of David James.

View his legendary antics in the shootout below…

England vs Portugal // 2004

Remember when Ricardo took his gloves off and saved a penalty then scored the next one to send Portugal through?

Madness.pic.twitter.com/OlaNVizANL

Ricardo has explained why he took his gloves off before Vassell’s penalty.

He said in Ben Lyttleton’s book Twelve Yards, per the 18: “We had practiced for penalties in training, and I had watched some DVDs looking at where England players had taken their penalties.

“But when I saw Darius Vassell coming toward me, I thought, ‘F****** hell, hang on! I have seen every player score a penalty on this DVD but not this guy. Nothing! Has he even taken one