World Cup 2010: Spain overcome Germany after Defender Carles Puyol winner

spain made history by repeating themselves. The country appears in a World Cup final for the first time because it has hit on a formula for glory. They face Holland in Johannesburg on Sunday after winning every match in the knockout phase 1-0, with the goal in Durban coming through an overwhelming header from Carles Puyol.

That breakthrough arrived when Xavi found the centre-half with a corner-kick in the 73rd minute as Spain showed they need not impress solely with mellifluous passing. There is still something idiosyncratic about an expansive approach that brings narrow wins. The syndrome is especially galling for Germany, who lost by this score to Spain in the Euro 2008 final.

Those results look like a demonstration of taunting authority. It is as if the victors are unassailable once they have taken the lead. Common sense would insist it is a dangerous approach to take, but Spain's record argues otherwise. When Pedro Rodríguez squandered an opportunity to add a second goal against Germany, it did not feel like a potentially ruinous lapse.

The mastery involved can be recognised when it is recalled that Germany came fresh from scoring eight times while knocking out England and then Argentina. The opportunities to show such marksmanship again were denied Joachim Löw's line-up. Germany are young enough to improve, but it is a challenge for any opponents to master Spain.





The 1-0 results are a falsehood if they suggest that Vicente del Bosque's side grind out results. Their play is enjoyable as well as masterful and Holland will require every ounce of strategic intelligence and combativeness if they are not to vanish from the game.

Spain are seldom in a hurry and solid defending invites them to bide their time. One of their best attackers enjoyed just an eventual cameo against Germany. Del Bosque had previously been determined to nurse Fernando Torres into form and fitness following knee surgery in the spring, but the Liverpool forward had not made his mark in the earlier matches at this tournament.

In Durban he returned to the substitutes' bench, regardless of the fact that his goal had settled that Euro 2008 clash. The manager could take such a step since the authority in his squad means they can afford to wait for a goal. David Villa was pushed into the lone attacker's post and Pedro came into the side as one of the three support strikers.

The latter was one of seven Barcelona players in the line-up, with three from Real Madrid. The task of representing the remainder of La Liga fell to Joan Capdevila of Villarreal. While the dominance of the two principal clubs lacks romance, it does ensure that the members of the side are well-acquainted, even if Villa's switch from Valencia to Camp Nou was only completed recently.

Spain were cohesive from the outset. With six minutes gone, Pedro fed Villa for an attempt that was blocked by the goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. At that stage, Germany's ambitions were either modest or made to seem so as Spain dictated the terms of the play.

It says much for the expectation where Del Bosque's line-up is concerned that some have been displeased with them. Perhaps the passing had been a little too studied and there was an endeavour to raise the tempo in the semi-final.

Germany were vigilant as they aimed to take the sting out of Spain. There were moments that would have heartened Löw after the opening half-hour. The midfielder Piotr Trochowski, introduced for the suspended Thomas Müller, hit a good shot that was turned behind by Iker Casillas.

Having failed to damage Germany, Spain might have been in deep trouble on the verge of the interval. Mesut Ozil broke free and Sergio Ramos caught him with a challenge from behind. The contact had occurred just before the Germany midfielder entered the penalty area and the Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai saw no offence.

The second half contained a more direct approach from Del Bosque's men. Since this is Spain, nothing coarse was entailed, but the attacking was intense and Xabi Alonso got himself into positions for drives that went wide. All the same, it scarcely amounted to a reign of terror.

If there was satisfaction for Spain in that spell it sprung from the knowledge that they had pinned down Germany. Andrés Iniesta got possession in the inside-left channel and his cut-back was nearly turned in by Villa. There was more intent and a higher tempo to Spain's work for a period.

Löw's unease was apparent in his substitution of the left-back Jérôme Boateng and Trochowski with Marcell Jansen and Toni Kroos respectively. The latter soon had an effect when he volleyed Lukas Podolski's cross, even if the effort was too close to Casillas. Spain's goal came soon after.

A more mature Holland line-up will be convinced they have the cold-eyed competitiveness to damage Spain. Many sides, though, have held that hope, only to see it painstakingly crushed.