Puyol puts Spain in final

For all of Spain's short passing, the winner came from a set-piece, with defender Carles Puyol powering an unstoppable header from Xavi’s corner past Manuel Neuer with 17 minutes remaining.

Vicente del Bosque’s side will face the Netherlands in Sunday’s final, meaning this year’s winners will claim a maiden World Cup triumph.

It was an intriguing, tight game that played to type, with Spain having more possession and Germany looking for the counter attack.

But with both sides as well-organised in defence as they are exciting in attack, chances were few and far between, although by the end, Spain had enjoyed the greater number of opportunities.

Spain had two early chances, with David Villa denied by Neuer after Pedro slid him through, before Puyol headed over from close range after a short-corner routine allowed Andres Iniesta to pick his cross.

Barcelona winger Pedro - given his first international start in place of the misfiring Fernando Torres - was Spain’s focal point, but as the half progressed Germany found their range.

Mesut Ozil was denied a clear sight at goal by an errant offside flag, while the Werder Bremen playmaker was left howling in frustration as a wayward flick-on by Lukas Podolski stopped him from running through.

Spain keeper Iker Casillas was looking nervous at corners, flapping horribly at deliveries from Ozil and Piotr Trochowski.

Trochowski, in for the suspended Thomas Mueller, put in a superb low drive that allowed Casillas to showcase his true skill in shot-stopping as Germany began to look the more likely.

Spain were toiling for the perfect goal, and almost paid the penalty when - in first-half stoppage-time - Sergio Ramos appeared to foul Ozil, although replays hinted any infringement took place fractionally outside the box.

In the second half Spain had a couple of early half-chances but both were from long range as Xabi Alonso and Villa drilled well wide of the right-hand post.

Things came alive just before the hour mark though when a succession of Spain chances opened up the game.

Alonso started to occupy a more advanced role, and his preference for a direct pass gave Spain more threat.

The Real Madrid midfielder initiated two chances within seconds, first by driving forward to allow Pedro to drill a shot that was batted out by Neuer and - on the rebound - spinning into the box with a superb drag-back to find Iniesta, whose cross-shot was inches away from conversion by the sliding Villa at the far post.

Podolski had a half-chance with an overhead kick when Marcel Jansen’s cross was deflected his way by Ramos, but it was all Spain as La Furia Roja’s possession started to tell.

Another Alonso ball capped off a passing move but Ramos was put off by a last-gasp tackle from Podolski, who had tracked him all the way from his left-wing position.

Germany had a glorious chance to take the lead when 20-year-old substitute Toni Kroos fired weakly at Casillas after he was picked out by a superb Podolski cross: four minutes later Spain were ahead.

Ironically it came from old-fashioned high corner aimed at the penalty spot, with Puyol leaping well beyond his limited height should allow to hammer a header beyond Neuer.

Joachim Loew’s young charges were forced to attack and the tables were turned on them for once in this tournament: as they committed men forward, the Spaniards hit them on the break and spurned two chances to make it 2-0.

Pedro somehow contrived to fall when he and David Silva were two-on-one against Arne Friedrich; while Torres - who came on as a late sub for the quiet Villa - did exactly the same with three minutes left.

As the clock ticked down Spain did what they do so well, holding on to the ball and taking the sting out of the game as Germany threw defenders up front in vain.

Having never before got to the quarter-final stage, Spain again showed that this team is made of sterner stuff to set up a historic final against their fellow nearly-men the Netherlands.

Goals 0-1

1st Half Goals 0-0

Shots on Target 2-5

Shots off Target 2-10

Blocked Shots 2-1

Corners 6-7

Fouls 9-7

Offsides 2-1

Yellow Cards 0-0

Red Cards 0-0

Passing Success 82%-87.6%

Tackles 31-11

Tackles Success 74.2%-90.9%

Possession 43.3%-56.7%

Territorial Advantage 41.7%-58.3%