Spain Reach First World Cup Final

Spain upped their game last night as they saw off Germany to reach the world Cup final for the very first time with a 1-0 over the former champions.

While it wasn't a match that was littered with goals it was a tactical battle that was won in defence and midfield rather than up front as Spain try to bury the label of under-achievers.

It was a repeat of the European final two years ago, where Spain won 1-0, and Spain will now meet Holland in the final, both two of the best sides to have never won the World Cup.

There was just one change for Spain as Fernando Torres, who has struggled throughout the whole tournament, was on the bench and replaced by Barcelona's Pedro Rodriguez.

With Muller suspended Piotr Trochowski was brought in as the replacement, but that was the only chance on the German side which has scored eight goals in their last two matches.

Spain finally brought out their famous passing game as they dominated possession in the opening stages of the match and controlled much of the match.

The first chance fell to Spain after just five minutes when Pedro fed in his soon to be Barcelona team-mate David Villa but he was denied his sixth goal of the tournament by keeper Neuer.

It was all Spain in the opening twenty minutes as Puyol should have done more with his header from a cross from Andres Iniesta before Sergio Ramon got on the end of an Alonso pass, only to fire wide.

it wasn't until the twenty second minute that Germany had their first real chance to launch a counter attack, but poor communication between Podolski and Ozil saw the opportunity pass them by.

Germany's game was being stifled by the Spanish as they were happy to move the ball around but once again struggled to convert this good passage of play into a goal scoring opportunity.

The opening forty five minutes were intriguing as both sides tried to find a way through the other and despite being entertaining it finished 0-0.

Into the second and Spain continued where they had left off as Alonso, Xavi and Iniesta began to really dominate in midfield as they picked up the pace.

Alonso had two shots from distance while Villa tried to curl a low ball into the net and Pedro also had a shot on target as he forced a good save from Neuer.

And while Germany hadn't conceded they were struggling to get much play on the ball never mind carve out a goal scoring opportunity, as they faced the most disciplined defence, which was well supported by the midfield.

More chances followed for Spain, possibly the best of the match as Villa just missed the ball as he slide in to make contact with an Iniesta cross while Ramos also came close.

Low tried to shake up his team as he brought off Jerome Boateng and Piotr Trochowski for Marcell Jansen and Toni Kroos, it was Kroos made the biggest impact as he forced a great save from Casillas, possibly the closest Germany had come during the second half.

But in the seventy third minute the deadlock was broken as a bullet of a header from Puyol gave Spain the lead. A cross from Xavi was perfectly directed into the box as an unchallenged Puyol found the back of the net.

Despite the introduction of Torres there was to be no second goal for the Spanish but 1-0 was to be enough to see them reach their first World Cup final.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw.