Silky Spain ends German dreams
July 9, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SPAIN booked its place in its first World Cup final on Wednesday with a display of cool-headed experience, patience, tactical nous and skill that ultimately proved too much for a young German side.
The 1-0 semifinal victory in Durban was secured from a Carles Puyol header in the 73rd minute but built on a foundation of accurate passing, sublime movement and pressure on the ball from the European champion.
Spain will play two-time finalist Netherlands on Sunday, where one of them will win its first World Cup title.
Germany's youngest World Cup squad in three quarters of a century had lit up the tournament with fine attacking play and a hatful of goals but never really got going as nerves and the Spanish defense nullified its threat.
Defensive midfield bastion Bastian Schweinsteiger, man of the match in the 4-0 quarterfinal victory over Argentina, was reduced to chasing shadows for much of the game as Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Pedro, and Andres Iniesta moved the ball around him.
Spain pressed forward, probing for weaknesses and gaps in the defense.
From the start the Spaniards attacked Germany's least experienced defender. Left back Jerome Boateng was playing in just his ninth international and down his flank came Pedro Rodriguez and Spain's right back Sergio Ramos to great effect.
Fernando Torres' replacement Pedro showed how rich with talent the roster is with a standout performance as the Barcelona winger started for the first time in only his fifth appearance.
When the Germans did manage to counterattack, their nervous passing was loose and inaccurate and more often than not they handed the ball back to the Spanish, who re-launched their assault.
Mueller missed
Mesut Ozil, the architect of Germany's 4-0 drubbing of Australia at this same stadium in its World Cup opener, looked tired while the suspended Thomas Mueller's pace and hard work down the right was clearly missed.
After Xabi Alonso had put two long-range efforts outside either post in a couple of minutes just after the break, German coach Joachim Loew withdrew Boateng and replaced him with the more attack-minded Marcell Jansen. The Spanish immediately switched the focus of their attack to Philipp Lahm's right flank and it proved equally effective in pegging the Germans back on defensive duties.
The only thing missing from the Spanish game ?? as has been the case for so much of the tournament - was the final touch, but patience has also been a virtue for this most technically adept of teams.
That ultimately the breakthrough came not from a deft Alonso flick, a bit of Iniesta magic or a David Villa strike but from a central defender's header at a set piece can only add to the list of offensive threats the Dutch will be pondering ahead of Sunday's final in Johannesburg.
The 1-0 semifinal victory in Durban was secured from a Carles Puyol header in the 73rd minute but built on a foundation of accurate passing, sublime movement and pressure on the ball from the European champion.
Spain will play two-time finalist Netherlands on Sunday, where one of them will win its first World Cup title.
Germany's youngest World Cup squad in three quarters of a century had lit up the tournament with fine attacking play and a hatful of goals but never really got going as nerves and the Spanish defense nullified its threat.
Defensive midfield bastion Bastian Schweinsteiger, man of the match in the 4-0 quarterfinal victory over Argentina, was reduced to chasing shadows for much of the game as Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Pedro, and Andres Iniesta moved the ball around him.
Spain pressed forward, probing for weaknesses and gaps in the defense.
From the start the Spaniards attacked Germany's least experienced defender. Left back Jerome Boateng was playing in just his ninth international and down his flank came Pedro Rodriguez and Spain's right back Sergio Ramos to great effect.
Fernando Torres' replacement Pedro showed how rich with talent the roster is with a standout performance as the Barcelona winger started for the first time in only his fifth appearance.
When the Germans did manage to counterattack, their nervous passing was loose and inaccurate and more often than not they handed the ball back to the Spanish, who re-launched their assault.
Mueller missed
Mesut Ozil, the architect of Germany's 4-0 drubbing of Australia at this same stadium in its World Cup opener, looked tired while the suspended Thomas Mueller's pace and hard work down the right was clearly missed.
After Xabi Alonso had put two long-range efforts outside either post in a couple of minutes just after the break, German coach Joachim Loew withdrew Boateng and replaced him with the more attack-minded Marcell Jansen. The Spanish immediately switched the focus of their attack to Philipp Lahm's right flank and it proved equally effective in pegging the Germans back on defensive duties.
The only thing missing from the Spanish game ?? as has been the case for so much of the tournament - was the final touch, but patience has also been a virtue for this most technically adept of teams.
That ultimately the breakthrough came not from a deft Alonso flick, a bit of Iniesta magic or a David Villa strike but from a central defender's header at a set piece can only add to the list of offensive threats the Dutch will be pondering ahead of Sunday's final in Johannesburg.
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