Puyol puts Spain through to final

Spain will face the Netherlands in their first ever FIFA World Cup final after Carles Puyol earned them a 1-0 win against Germany in Durban.

In a repeat of the UEFA EURO 2008 decider, which Spain won courtesy of a solitary Fernando Torres goal, the European champions had to work hard to unpick their opponents' defence, eventually doing so via Puyol's commanding header 17 minutes from time. They will now face the Oranje in Sunday's showpiece in Johannesburg, a first meeting between the two countries in a major final tournament.

Vicente del Bosque's charges may have failed to reach their fluent heights of Austria and Switzerland in their opening five fixtures in South Africa, but they began with their old swagger. Preferred to Torres, Pedro Rodríguez was first to show a glimmer of imagination, cutely feeding David Villa only for Manuel Neuer to smother the Spain No7's toe-poke.

Another FC Barcelona man, Puyol, was next to benefit from such ingenuity, Andrés Iniesta fizzing in a cross from a well-worked corner routine which the centre-back headed over from close range. Spanish menace soon turned to frustration as Germany, who had only Piotr Trochowski's low drive to show for their first-half efforts, sat back, kept their shape and waited to pounce in now customary counterattacking style.

Xabi Alonso opted to go direct after half-time, twice shooting wide from outside the penalty area. Spain remained patient, though, and went closer before the hour when Alonso's delightful feint released Iniesta, whose cross narrowly evaded Villa's desperate lunge.

Germany, seemingly content to bide their time, had only scraps to feed on until the 69th minute, Lukas Podolski picking out substitute Toni Kroos whose first-time half-volley was parried by Iker Casillas. They were soon made to pay, as Spain abandoned the scenic route and struck the decisive blow, Puyol meeting Xavi Hernández's corner with a thumping header which this time dipped under Neuer's bar.

Pedro and Torres contrived to spurn a late break but Spain had already done enough to deny Germany an eighth World Cup final appearance. Instead they will attempt to repeat their third place of 2006 when they play Uruguay on Saturday.