Germany 0 Spain 1 - Carles Puyol heads Spain into first World Cup final
Carles Puyol(credit:
toksuede)
Defender Carles Puyol was the unlikely hero as he headed Spain into their first World Cup final with a 1-0 win over Germany.
Germany had their chances to gain revenge for their Euro 2008 final defeat, but Puyol produced the telling moment with a header 17 minutes from time to earn Spain a showdown with Holland on Sunday.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque dropped out-of-sorts striker Fernando Torres but surprisingly opted for Pedro ahead of Cesc Fabregas in his starting XI. German counterpart Joachim Loew had to make one enforced change, bringing in Piotr Trochowski for suspended four-goal midfielder Thomas Muller – who the Germans would miss greatly.
Spain sent an early warning when Pedro sliced the German defence with a pass for David Villa, but Manuel Neuer quickly raced off his line to block the Barcelona star.
Germany responded in similar style and Mesut Oezil was flagged for a very marginal offside after being played in by Trochowski.
Spain were stroking the ball around in trademark style and fashioned another opening on 13 minutes, but Carles Puyol headed over Andres Iniesta’s cross.
At the other end Oezil swung in a corner that just evaded the head of Miroslav Klose, and just before the break the tricky German midfielder had strong appeals for a penalty waved away after he appeared to be caught by Ramos while running through on goal.
Spain came out from the interval looking sharp and Pedro went on dazzling run before pulling the ball back to Xabi Alonso, but the midfielder failed to hit the target with his low shot.
Alonso flashed another shot inches wide from distance a moment later, with Neuer well beaten, and the German goalkeeper then had to come to his side’s rescue to keep out Pedro’s powerful drive.
The European champions were looking dangerous and Andres Iniesta’s dangerous low pass flew across the face of goal before Lukas Podolski prevent Sergio Ramos meeting another teasing delivery into the German box.
Villa failed to trouble Neuer and moments later Germany should have taken the lead with their first real attack of the second half. Podolski’s deep cross found and unmarked Toni Kroos at the back post but he failed to make clean contact with his volley and Iker Casillas batted the ball away.
Germany were beginning to enjoy a spell on the front foot and Gerard Pique headed clear with Podolski lurking, but suddenly they were rocked when Spain went in front. Xavi crossed from the left-hand side and Puyol arrived late to power an unstoppable header past Neuer on 73 minutes.
Germany began to pour forward in search of an equaliser and were almost caught out twice, but Arne Friedrich raced back to deny Villa, with the five-goal hitman through on goal. And Pedro then broke clear with support from substitute Torres, but he hesitated and lost possession with the Liverpool striker completely unmarked in the area.
Schweinsteiger’s appeal for a spot-kick was dismissed by the referee as the desperate German appeared to go down far too easily, and they failed to even test Casillas as the seconds ticked away and have to settle for a third-place playoff with Uruguay on Saturday.
Germany - Neuer, Friedrich, Khedira (Gomez 81), Schweinsteiger, Oezil, Podolski, Klose, Trochowski (Kroos 62), Lahm, Mertesacker, Boateng (Jansen 52).
Spain - Casillas, Pique, Puyol, A Iniesta, David Villa (Torres 81), Xavi, Capdevila, Alonso (C Marchena 90), Ramos, Sergio, Pedro (Silva 86).
Goal: Puyol 73