SPAIN FINALLY REACH THE PINNACLE

It is guaranteed we will have a new World Cup winner in Johannesburg on Sunday. World football's two biggest underachievers, Holland and Spain, will go head to head as one of them will finally get the chance to rid themselves of that most unwanted of tag's. Spain defeated Germany with a single Carles Puyol header, in a repeat of the scoreline in the Euro 2008 final, to qualify for their first ever World Cup final. The Barcelona defender seemed in a state of disbelief after the final whistle, and few could blame him. For Germany, it was a disappointing end to an impressive performance from their young team, but on the balance of play, Spain deserved their win. There seems little doubt this is only the beginning for this talented German generation. Spain were quickest out of the blocks, and the first real chance arrived after six minutes. Pedro, included in place of the out of form Fernando Torres, threaded a brilliant pass through for David Villa, but the Barcelona striker could not get a strong enough contact on his shot as he was sliding, allowing German keeper Manuel Neuer to make a good save. After 14 minutes, Spain threatened again, from an unlikely source. A corner was worked short between Xavi, Xabi Alonso and Andres Iniesta, and Iniesta fizzed in a ball which Puyol dived to head over when well placed. A precursor of things to come. But as the half wore on, the match got slightly bogged down in midfield. Spain often tried to play one too many pass - Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso and Sergio Busquets are excellent players, but the Spanish only have one way to play. A Mesut Ozil corner almost saw Spanish captain Iker Casillas get caught under the ball, and Spain's defence looked under pressure aainst the physicality of this German team every time the ball was pumped into the box. The European champions started firing in shots from long range, showing their desperation, but German came close to taking the lead just after the half hour mark. Piotr Trochowski, in for the suspended Thomas Muller, fired in a well-struck left foot shot from 25 yards, which Casillas did well to tip it around the post. Spain were over-playing it, and were looking for the perfect pass. This was typified when Villa found himself in acres of space on the right, but Iniesta turned back inside and the chance was gone. Spain were almost made to pay in the final seconds of the first half. Germany broke quickly as is their want, and Miroslav Klose slips in Ozil running from deep. He cuts across Sergio Ramos, who seems to clip him on the edge of the area. But the referee gave neither a free-kick or a penalty, much to the bemusement of Ozil, his teammates and the German bench. Spain looked like they had been given a stern talking to by coach Vicente del Bosque, as they started the second half with more purpose. Pedro was to the fore of most of their best work, and after some brilliant footwork took him past three German challenges, he pulled the ball back for Alonso to fire wide from the edge of the area. Alonso came even closer two minutes later from similar range, this time shooting a yard wide after another intricate passing move. Spain were starting to up the tempo, and after Villa had curled a couple of yards wide from the corner of the penalty area, their best chance arrived just before the hour mark. Pedro was involved again, as his shot from the edge of the area brought a brilliant save out of Neuer, and when the ball reached Iniesta on the left of the penalty area, his fizzing cross was inches away from the boot of the predatory Villa. Definitely shades of Gazza in Euro 96 there. Spain still looked the more likely winners, but Germany showed they were still dangerous on the break as Klose volleyed over from a difficult chance. And with just over 20 minutes remaining, Germany should have turned that danger into a lead. Ozil played in Lukas Podolski down the left, and his superb cross found substitute Toni Kroos unmarked, but his volley brought an excellent save out of Casillas with practically his first touch. That was to prove costly, as Spain got the goal they craved with 17 minutes remaining. And, in a twist of irony with what we'd seen tonight, it was the most un-Spanish goal you are likely to see. Xavi swung over a corner, and Puyol arrived unmarked to thump a brilliant header beyond Neuer. Now Germany had to chase the game, and the situation suited Spain down to a tee. It didn't matter if they passed the ball and didn't get anywhere with it. Villa was surprisingly substituted for Torres inside the final ten minutes, but Spain should have wrapped up the game seconds later. After a German attack broke down, Pedro raced forward, with Torres in support and just the one defender retreating. But instead of playing in the Liverpool striker, he dallied and the ball was nicked off his toes by Bastian Schweinsteiger. But Germany had very little left in the tank. Mario Gomez was brought on for the final German substitution, but the striker of Spanish descent could make little impact. Spain saw out the game comfortably, and can look forward to trying to complete the European Championships and World Cup double on Sunday. Holland and Spain have never met in a major championships before, and what an occasion to end that surprising statistic. Spanish pundit Guillem Balague summed up the last four years of Spanish football, where they have only lost competitively to USA and Switzerland: 'we decided to keep the ball and since then nobody has taken it off us. We cannot compete physically with the rest so we keep the ball.' And it has taken them to the brink of an extraordinary achievement.


PLAYER OF THE DAY - Pedro.
The Barcelona playmaker was Spain's most threatening player for much of the game, as he tried to inject some incision into his team's sometimes ponderous build-up play. He played in David Villa with a superb pass after six minutes, and was also not afraid to shoot himself. He is a strong runner with the ball, and helped to create further chances for Xabi Alonso and Villa. Thankfully for him, when he dwelt on the ball rather than passing to Fernando Torres, it didn't prove costly to his country. He will be unlucky not to be selected for the final on the basis of this performance.

GOAL OF THE DAY - Carles Puyol.
It was the only goal, but was one of the most important goals in Spain's football history. It meant they qualified for their first World Cup final, and Puyol's header was an outstanding finish. And for all their pretty passing, this goal counts just as much as one which they might score at the end of an intricate move.

GAFFE OF THE DAY - Joachim Loew.
The German coach missed a trick by not trying to take the game by the scruff of the neck until his team was behind. While Spain were struggling to find their rhythm, Germany should have pressed higher up the pitch and tried to instill their counter-attacking values to greater effect. Easier said than done against such great players, and Germany's young team will surely come again. But this must still go down as a missed opportunity for Loew and his players.