Defensive Germany Go Down, Spain Make History
Germany disgraced top sides Argentina and England on their way to the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but Vicente del Bosque’s Spaniards were not ready to suffer a humiliating fate. Expectedly, Spain took hold of the game with their trademark possessive game. However, the Germans made things difficult by making numerous interceptions to cut Spain’s flow.
Apparently, the shocking introduction of an agitated spectator onto the field inside the 4th minute of the match troubled neither side. The best attempt on goal came through Puyol’s 13th minute header. But too much power on the ball saw his header fly way above the crossbar. Xabi Alonso’s long range effort on the hour mark was an awful one; the battle wasn’t as fierce as expected.
Surely, a goal was needed to open things up as Trochowski’s low strike in the 32nd minute was Germany’s sole real attempt on goal so far. The Germans were more focused on defending inside their own half.
Ozil appealed for a penalty after he was brought down in the box by Sergio Ramos as he counter-attacked for Germany before Barcelona’s Pedro closed the first half’s proceedings with a low strike that didn’t trouble goalkeeper Neuer.
A moment of brilliance minutes before the hour mark put Germany under pressure as consecutive attacks saw Pedro and David Villa come inches away from breaking the deadlock. Substitute Tony Kroos proved his presence on the pitch with a dangerous shot to complete Lucas Podolski’s lobbing pass but Iker Casillas impressively punched the ball clear. Contrastingly, Germany’s goalkeeper Neuer conceded a Puyol header in the 72nd minute.
The Spanish
defender had finally executed an effort with precision and perfection.
As time was flying fast for the Germans to come back into the game, Vicente Del Bosque ran down the clock with substitutions. David Villa came off for Torres and so did Pedro (who wasted a one-on-one opportunity to round up Spain’s victory) for David Silva.
Actually, Germany never did enough to score a single vital goal. Puyol’s solitary goal had created history for Spain. The Barcelona captain turned the dream of Joachim Lowe’s wonderful young squad into a bitter nightmare.
Spain will face the Netherlands in the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup whereas Germany will have to settle for at least bronze medals with a match against Uruguay this weekend.
