How Cech's hooter almost won Euro final before Chelsea conked out

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Chelsea’s Czech international saved a spot-kick from the Manchester United star in last week’s Champions League final shootout.

And the 26-year-old has revealed the effort actually smacked him in the face before bouncing away to safety.

Face off: Petr Cech saves Cristiano Ronaldo's Champions League Final penalty

Cech, who will face Ronaldo again in Euro 2008, said: “Ronaldo’s kick hit me on my nose, it gave me an awful smack.

“The main thing was that I didn’t want to move so as to make it easier for him. I was prepared for the fact that he might hesitate.

“I waited for that and, as soon as Ronaldo paused, he didn’t have much time to do something. I went the right way and saved the penalty.”

As it was it proved irrelevant as John Terry missed a penalty to win it then Nicolas Anelka saw his sudden-death kick saved by United keeper Edwin van der Sar.

VIDEO: Ronaldo's missed spot-kick as filmed by a fan

Ronaldo’s style of pausing before taking penalties served him well all season - but then he missed in Barcelona and in Moscow.

Yet Cech believes the United ace is confident enough to carry on with his tried-and-trusted technique.

He added: “Ronaldo has always paused before taking his last few penalties so I think he will take it the same way again in the future. He has no reason to change it.

"Moreover, he has scored most of them. He only missed the one against Barcelona and the one in the Moscow final.”