Spain dominates Germany to reach World Cup Final

Spain completely dominated Germany over 90 minutes to earn a 1-0 victory in Durban on July 7 and book a trip to World Cup Final for the first time in the country’s history. Defender Carles Puyol scored the winner with a powerful header in the 73rd minute.

Spain played their usual game of possession and passing while Germany was flat and didn’t offer much at all in the way of attacking and pace. They gave the Spanish far too much time and room on the ball and paid the ultimate price for it. For the first time in the tournament the German’s youth and inexperience was actually a negative factor in a game. Missing midfielder and the team’s co-leading scorer Thomas Mueller due to suspension definitely didn’t help, but players such as Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose, and Bastian Schweinsteiger were virtually invisible instead of picking up the slack.

The score was actually flattering to Germany as it could have been much worse if goalkeeper Manuel Neuer didn’t pull off a few brilliant saves. He was pressed into action early as David Villa had a great chance to open the scoring and add to his five goals in the sixth minute after Pedro sent him in alone, but the keeper came out bravely to block the shot.

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Germany didn’t get a shot on net until about the 30th minute when midfielder Piotr Trochowski hammered a 30-yard shot that Spanish keeper Iker Casillas dove low to his left to save. Soon after, midfielder Mesut Oezil ran into the box and Spanish defender Sergio Ramos took him down, but referee Viktor Kassai thought it was a fair challenge.

As the game wore on and Spain created more and more chances it was inevitable they would score sooner or later and it came when Xavi delivered a corner kick into the crowd in front of Neuer and Puyol leaped high and got the ball first. He headed it with enough power to evade the diving Neuer who had no chance to save it as the ball struck the back of the net.

However, Toni Kroos had the best chance of the night for Germany just a few minutes earlier as he found himself in the open in front of Casillas, but tried to guide the ball in the net with his left foot instead of putting any power into it and Casillas made the save.

The Spanish controlled the pace and flow of the game much like they have throughout the tournament. They should have doubled their lead when Pedro and Fernando Torres broke in together on Neuer and a defender, but Pedro got too fancy with the ball instead of laying it off or shooting it.

However, even though time was running out on the Germans and they desperately needed a goal, they didn’t apply much pressure at all or create any scoring chances. It was a total team effort for the Spanish as they let the ball do all of the work and they eventually scored on one of their chances.

Spain will be trying to shake its tag as a ‘choker’ when it comes to the World Cup as they now prepare to take on Holland in the World Cup Final on July 11 at Soccer City in Johannesburg. Holland as made it that far twice before, but lost both times in 1974 and 1978. The Germans will now lick their wounds and attempt to regroup in time for the 3rd place match against Uruguay on July 10.