DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA -- For decades, Spain's soccer history has been marked by the extraordinary success of its club teams. Now, after perpetual disappointment on the sport's grandest stage, Spain will play for the World Cup championship.
With a With a 1-0 victory over Germany on Wednesday in front of 60,960 at Moses Modhida Stadium, La Roja advanced to Sunday's final against the Netherlands in Johannesburg. It's the first time in 32 years that two teams that have never held the trophy will face one another for the title.
"We have been waiting for so many years," said Coach Vicente Del Bosque, who played for Spain's national team in the late 1970s and has guided the current group for two years. "Our players carried out their job in a magnificent way."
After dominating possession, Spain finally broke Germany's stout resistance in the 73rd minute. Veteran defender Carles Puyol, who squandered a can't-miss chance in the opening moments, launched himself at Xavi's corner kick and directed a 10-yard header into the right side of the net for just his third goal in 89 national team appearances.
"We dominated the match," Xavi said. "The Spanish personality imposed itself. In the second half, we had the ball virtually all the time."
Germany, a three-time champion seeking an eighth title game berth, will face Uruguay in Saturday's third-place game in Port Elizabeth. The Germans had scored eight goals in the previous two matches, but without quality possession for long periods, they were powerless.
"They are the masters of the game," Germany Coach Joachim Loew said of the Spaniards. "You can see it in every pass. They can hardly be beaten."
The anticipation began to build early in the morning with supporters from both sides in national colors strolling the promenade that leads from the row of seaside hotels and cafes to the glittering arena.
With Brazil, Argentina, Italy, England and France long gone, this match had a championship feel -- reigning European champion Spain, cultivator of immense talent but perennial underachiever in the World Cup, against Germany, a regular figure in the late stages of the tournament.
On the eve of the match, players from both teams suggested an open, entertaining match. Instead of a free-flowing affair, Spain kept an iron grip on possession, laboring to break down the Germans.
The ball flowed through Andres Iniesta and Pedro and to Sergio Ramos on the right flank. Germany was left to chase shadows.
In the 14th minute, Puyol wasted Iniesta's cross, sending an unchallenged, routine header over the crossbar. With scant possession, Germany had little to offer until the 32nd minute when Piotr Trochowski's 25-yard effort was slapped aside by the diving Iker Casillas.
In first-half stoppage time, Germany pleaded for a penalty kick when Mesut Oezil ran onto a through ball and went down in the box. Ramos had made contact from behind, but Oezil also appeared to get his own legs tangled.
After the break, the teams remained painfully cautious. Then, in the 58th minute, the match burst to life. With Spain quickening the pace, Manuel Neuer had to make a diving save on Pedro's low drive and Iniesta's cross from deep in the box skipped just beyond David Villa at the back post.
Germany was bending, and with little possession to speak of, the assault continued. Iniesta's footwork -- show the ball, pull it back, reverse direction, repeat -- was exquisite.
German threats were rare. In the 69th minute, reserve Toni Kroos struck Lukas Podolski's cross on a short hop, but Casillas covered the back post and blocked the modest bid.
Spain's breakthrough came on Xavi's corner kick into the heart of the box. Puyol's partner in central defense, Gerard Pique, was well positioned when the shaggy-haired Puyol, nicknamed "Tarzan," came flying into the play for a powerful header that streaked past Neuer.
"Puyol just threw himself at the ball," teammate Xabi Alonso said.
With Germany pressing, Spain had several chances to extend the lead. But Villa, going one-on-one, lost control and Pedro tried to do too much in the open.
Germany pressured with dangerous balls into the box, but with Puyol and Pique throwing themselves all over the place, Casillas wasn't threatened and Spain secured its spot in the final with its fifth consecutive victory since losing to Switzerland in the Group H opener.
"When they attack, the whole team comes forward, and when they defend, they all work together to keep it tight," Germany defender Marcell Jansen said. "We knew we'd have to be patient, and we resisted the pressure for as long as possible, but Spain was the better team."
