Spain beats Germany for spot in World Cup final

DURBAN, South Africa - Spain pressured Germany the entire match and threatened its goal so many times a score seemed inevitable.

Finally, with a mighty lunge of his head that sent his long, curly locks flying, Spain's Carles Puyol got it done.

With the World Cup final in reach - and Queen Sofia cheering from the stands - La Roja came through with their best game yet.

"We've shown that in the big moments we can grow even more," striker David Villa said after Spain's 1-0 semifinal victory over Germany last night. "We should have scored more goals, but one from Puyol has put us in the final."

Spain will play for the World Cup title for the very first time, thanks to Puyol's goal on that powerful header in the second half. The game was a repeat, down to the final score, of the 2008 European Championship final when Spain beat Germany to win its first major title in 44 years.

"This is one of the greatest moments for Spain, for us to be in the final of the World Cup, it's history," said Villa. "And we want to make more history in the final."

Somebody will.

Spain faces the Netherlands on Sunday at Soccer City in Johannesburg, ensuring a first-time champion. The Dutch, who beat Uruguay 3-2 on Tuesday, have lost in their only two trips to the final. The two teams have never met in the World Cup and their all-time series is dead even.

"I am sure the Spanish can win any game," Germany coach Joachim Loew said, "because they are dominant and it's hard to contain their attack."

Making opponents look bad is becoming Spain's trademark. Spain has been the best team in Europe - all the world, really - for much of the last four years. It's lost all of two games since November 2006, one a shocker to Switzerland in the group-stage opener. With all but two members of the starting lineup playing for either Barcelona or Real Madrid, the Spanish play with seamlessness and fluidity.

"They have been playing together for several years, they are very cohesive, their moves come automatically," German striker Miroslav Klose said. "They were simply the better team."

In the 73rd minute, they proved they were. Xavi swung a corner kick right into the scrum in front of German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. With fellow defender and Barcelona teammate Gerard Pique next to him and screening Neuer's view, Puyol leaped and got the ball.

He headed it with ferocity. Neuer dived to his left, but had no chance to stop the ball as it thundered into the net.