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The Germans had come into the game as the highest scoring side in the tournament after scoring 13 goals, and conceding only 2 goals in 5 matches. And Spain had come in as reigning European champions. Though some had expected the German soccer machine to have an easy ride after beating highly rated Argentina by 4-0 in their quarter final match.
There was a mild drama in the 4th minute when a fan ran into the pitch and was immediately apprehended by two security men, and taken out of the pitch.
In the 5th minute, David Villa failed to put the Spaniards ahead as he shot into the body of the on-rushing Spanish goal keeper. Ozil was ruled off-side in the 10th minute. Spain got their first corner kick in the 13th minute but failed to take an advantage of it as Charles Puyol failed to click, with his nodding in the 18 yard box going over the bar for a goal kick.
The Germans went on a counter attack and got their first corner kick in the 15th minute. The Spaniards had yet another corner kick in the 22nd minute but failed to score with it.
Trochowski’s deadly left footer was pushed into corner by Casillas in the 32nd minute. Spain got another corner kick in the 45th minute. The first half ended on a barren note; with Spain controlling much of the play in the mid field and the flanks.
The second half saw superior fireworks from the Spanish team; though they lost a lot of scoring chances, with David Villa, Xabi Alonso and Pedro being the worst culprits. In the 49th minute, Pedro ran through the right flank, beating three defenders in a roll, but his cross to Xabi Alonso was shot wide.
In the 50th minute, Xabi Alonso also failed to utilize a cross provided him by Xavi, with his shot rolling across the goal line for a goal kick. Jansen Marcell replaced Jerome Boateng in the 52nd minute.
In the 58th minute, David Villa failed to connect Iniesta’s cross into a yawning net. And in the 61st minute, Miroslav Klose’s shot went over the bar. In the 63rd minute, Sergio Ramos was brought down by Podolski in the 6 yard box but the centre referee waved ‘play on’.
Kroos’ direct shot was parried by goal keeper Casillas in the 69th minute and eventually cleared away from danger zone. Germany got a corner kick in the 70th minute but failed to convert it into a goal.
The Spaniards however broke the deadlock through Charles Puyol, who nodded in a corner kick in the 73rd minute to score the only goal of the night to make sure Spain advanced into the finals for the very first time.
Germany got another corner kick in the 77th minute but could not equalize with it as Spain’s defense proved too compact to concede any cheap goal. Gomez replaced Sami Khedira, while Fernando Torres replaced David Villa in the 81st minute, after he had wasted a lot of scoring chances. In the 82nd minute, Pedro selfishly wasted a chance that would have been easily scored by Fernando Torres.
Pedro was replaced by David Silva in the 85th minute. Spain got a corner kick in the 89th and 90th minutes respectively but none was converted. Carlos Machena replaced Xabi Alonso in the 3rd minute of added time.
At the end of 90 minutes, the Spaniards and their coach, Vicente Del Bosque were overjoyed for qualifying for the final for the first time, while coach Joachin Loew and his lads were unhappy for crashing out against the European champions. Spain will now play the Netherlands in an all European final on Sunday 11th July, 2010 to determine who goes home as the crowned champions.
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