Thursday July 8, 2010
On Wednesday Spain reached their first World Cup final by defeating Germany by 1-0. The goal was scored by Carles Puyol’s in the 73rd minute. On Sunday, at Soccer City in Johannesburg Spain will set up for an all – European final with the Netherlands. At a World Cup it will be the first Spain – Netherlands match.
Germany failed to reach in finals and will now, on Saturday will take on Uruguay in the third place game in Port Elizabeth. The coaches of both Germany and Spain made one changes in their respective teams. In Germany Coach Joachim Loew replaced Thomas Mueller with Piotr Trochowski and Spain’s coach Vicente del Bosque replaced Fernando Torres with Pedro.
At Durban Stadium in front of 60,900 spectators, Spain had the first chance as Pedro sent a through ball to David Villa but in the sixth minute German Keeper Manuel Neuer rushed out to block off the attempt. Xevi’s cross finding Puyol the Iberians were close eight minutes later but from the edge of the box the defender’s header went over the crossbar.
In the first half hour against the creative Spanish midfield, Germany was unable to create any chances as Loew’s men were too busy avoiding mistakes.
In the 32nd minute Trochowski tested Spanish keeper Iker Casillas that the Iberian captain was forced to fend to corner. In the 58th the Spain were dangerously close, on Pedro’s long range blast, Neuer made a superb stop and then villa pass across the mouth of the goal post. In the 73rd minute Spain broke down the Germany wall, from about ten yards Puyol hammered home a header.
