Spain edge out Germany to reach first World Cup Final

From Gavin Hamilton at Durban Stadium

Spain celebrate

The European champions were back in Durban where their World Cup campaign had got off to such an inauspicious start, losing to Switzerland in their opening match.

But faced with their toughest challenge yet, a Germany team who used all their guile to block a Spanish route to goal and who looked capable of springing a goal themselves, Spain had to summon courage and conviction to reach their first World Cup Final.

However, it took a headed goal from a corner by defender Carles Puyol, for Spain to triumph.

Although the goal came from a setpiece, Spain had not deserted their passing, possession football, though coach Vicente Del Bosque had finally lost patience with the out-of-sorts Fernando Torres and brought in Pedro on the left side of a front three, alongside David Villa and Andres Iniesta.

Germany coach Joachim Low had opted for Piotr Trochowski, a more conventional wide midfielder, to replace the suspended Thomas Muller, rather than the much-touted central playmaker Toni Kroos.

Germany knew they were up against a much stronger team than either England or Argentina, and adjusted their midfield priorities accordingly with a 4-4-1-1 formation, Mesut Ozil slotted in behind Miroslav Klose and Trachowski started wide right on the right.

The two banks of four compressed the play and crowded out the midfield. Spain had most of the possession, but few opportunities in front of goal.

In the sixth minute, Pedro played a hopeful ball into Villa, who connected with his shot but Manuel Neuer was out quickly to make the save.

In the 13th minute, Spain won their first corner, from which Iniesta delivered a fierce cross from the right. Carles Puyol launched himself at the ball but could only direct the header over.

Germany’s midfield were preoccupied with snuffing out Spain’s passing game but when they did break out, they were capable of caused Spain difficult moments.

In the 15th minute Iker Casillas looked uncomfortable tipping away a corner but was in control when he turned Trochowski’s shot around a post in the 32md minute.

On the half-hour mark Xabi Alonso had shot wide from the edge of the area as Spain continued to enjoy possession but little penetration.

Germany created the best chance of the half when Klose dropped deep and Ozil ran from deep. The covering defender Sergio Ramos clipped Ozil leg just outside the area but Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai refused to accede to German protests and waived play on.

Spain continued to press and probe in the second half. Xabi Alonso twice shot wide from outside the area before Spain finally played their way through the defence in the 58th minute .

Neuer did well to save Pedro’s strong shot from the edge of the area but before Germany could clear, Xavi had backheeled the ball into the path of the onrushing Iniesta, who flashed a cross-shot across the box, but Villa just failed to make the connection.

Toni Kroos replaced Trochowski on the hour-mark and he played a part in Germany’s best move. As with their previous games, it came down the left flank, where Podolski was released and crossed to the unmarked Kroos, whose sidefooted shot was pushed away by Casillas.

Spain’s goal was coming. But after all the neat build-up play, it came, irony of ironies, from a set-piece. In the 73rd minute Puyol rose unmarked behind his Barcelona team-mate Gerard Pique to head Xavi’s corner past Neuer. Pique was being marked by Sami Khedira, whose midfield policing work had been immaculate. But he could no nothing to stop Puyol.

The goal sparked a quick response from Germany, who withdrew Khedira and added a second striker in Mario Gomez. But space opened up for Spain and Pedro was sent clear. He tried to turn and beat Friedrich on his own, though, with Torres unmarked on the other side of the area and begging for the ball.

It didn’t matter. Spain held out and history will be made on Sunday.

Tags: Germany, Spain