http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fexEDlKhiOIendofvid [starttext] FULLTIME: The whistle blows and Puyol's 73rd minute goal is enough to send Spain to its first World Cup final. There it will meet the Netherlands, meaning we will have a first-time World Cup champion in the first tournament held on the African continent.
Spain wins 1-0 for the third straight game. Once again it dominated possession of the ball and controlled the tempo. Unlike its previous games, the Germans were not able to unleash their devastating counter attack that had embarrassed opponents in games earlier this tournament.
90th minute + 3: Spain makes its final substitution. Carlos Marchena has come on for Xabi Alonso.
90th minute: Three minutes to be added. Last chance for the Germans to snare a goal.
85th minute: Pedro is off. David Silva is on for Spain.
82nd minute: Pedro and Torres stampede down the field in a 2-on-1 with only Friedrich back for Germany. Pedro, however, reuses to pass to Torres for one reason or another. A terrible choice and the threat is handled by the Germans.
81st minute: Both teams will bring on strikers. Mario Gomez is on for Germany replacing Khedira. Fernando Torres is on for Villa and Spain.
73rd minute: GOAL. Puyol connects with a forceful header and puts Spain ahead, 1-0. The central defender came charging from outside the penalty area on the corner kick, flung himself at the Xavi ball (just as he did in the first half) and directed a line drive past Neuer into the net.
The eyes of the World are on Spain and Germany today as the European powers meet with a spot in the World Cup final on the line.
69th minute: Kroos comes off the bench and gets the best chance of the game. Podolski chips to the right side of the box where Kroos volleys from 10 yards out. He hits it at the middle of the net, tough, and Casillas makes a strong reaction save.
62nd minute: Another change for Germany. Trochowski is off. Toni Kroos is on.
59th minute: Pedro forces a diving save from Neuer as Germany's defense opened up a bit -- finally. Xabi Alonso laid the ball off perfectly for the charging Pedro, who struck from the edge of the area. The fell came down for Iniesta, who then weaved through the box and played the ball across the goal mouth. No one for Spain was able to latch on to it, though, and Germany dodged a bullet.
52nd minute: Germany makes its first substitution. Boateng is off. Marcell Jansen is on at left back.
50th minute: Xabi Alonso runs on to a rolling ball at the edge of the box but his shot sails wide of the net.
46th minute: The second half has begun. No changes for either side.
HALFTIME: It's halftime and it's 0-0. Both teams have neutralized the other so far in this half. Germany has taken just one and shot: Trochowski's strike that stretched Casillas. Spain has dominated possession but has put just two shots on target.
45th minute: Ozil streaks down the middle of the field and trips in the box. Puyol was right next to him as he went down. Despite German shouts for a penalty kick, the referee rules the two got their feet entangled. No foul. No penalty kick.
32nd minute: Germany's best effort of the half comes off the foot of Trochowski. In for the suspended Muller, Trochowski struck the ball low and to the left corner of the net. Casillas dove that way and parried it away with both hands.
25th minute: The game has settled a bit. Spain is possessing the ball and looking to press forward with intricate passing. Germany is content to absorb the Spain attack and, as it has all tournament, looking to strike on the counter attack.
14th minute: Iniesta swings the ball in towards the penalty spot. Puyol flings himself at the ball, meeting it with his head, but pops it up over the net. The chances have fallen to the Spanish so far.
7th minute: Pedro plays Villa in towards goal with an incisive through ball. Neuer comes off his line well and beats the Spain striker to the ball, however.
1st minute: We're off. A shot at the World Cup final is at stake. These two teams last met in this kind of pressure-packed situation two years ago in the final of the European Championships. Spain won, 1-0, on a Fernando Torres goal. Torres, ineffective in this tournament, is out of the Spain lineup today.
Welcome to The Star-Ledger World Cup live blog. We'll be getting started in just a minute. In the meantime, check out the lineups on both sides.
Spain: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pique, Puyol Capdevila; Busquets, Alonso, Iniesta, Xavi, Pedro; Villa.
Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Marchena, Torres, Fabregas, Mata, Arbeloa, Llorente, Javi Martinez, Silva, Jesus Navas, Reina.
Germany: Neuer; Lahm, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Boateng; Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Trochowski, Ozil; Podolski, Klose.
Subs: Wiese, Jansen, Aogo, Tasci, Kiessling, Badstuber, Kroos, Cacau, Marin, Gomez, Butt.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)[endtext]
Spain wins 1-0 for the third straight game. Once again it dominated possession of the ball and controlled the tempo. Unlike its previous games, the Germans were not able to unleash their devastating counter attack that had embarrassed opponents in games earlier this tournament.
90th minute + 3: Spain makes its final substitution. Carlos Marchena has come on for Xabi Alonso.
90th minute: Three minutes to be added. Last chance for the Germans to snare a goal.
85th minute: Pedro is off. David Silva is on for Spain.
82nd minute: Pedro and Torres stampede down the field in a 2-on-1 with only Friedrich back for Germany. Pedro, however, reuses to pass to Torres for one reason or another. A terrible choice and the threat is handled by the Germans.
81st minute: Both teams will bring on strikers. Mario Gomez is on for Germany replacing Khedira. Fernando Torres is on for Villa and Spain.
73rd minute: GOAL. Puyol connects with a forceful header and puts Spain ahead, 1-0. The central defender came charging from outside the penalty area on the corner kick, flung himself at the Xavi ball (just as he did in the first half) and directed a line drive past Neuer into the net.
The eyes of the World are on Spain and Germany today as the European powers meet with a spot in the World Cup final on the line.69th minute: Kroos comes off the bench and gets the best chance of the game. Podolski chips to the right side of the box where Kroos volleys from 10 yards out. He hits it at the middle of the net, tough, and Casillas makes a strong reaction save.
62nd minute: Another change for Germany. Trochowski is off. Toni Kroos is on.
59th minute: Pedro forces a diving save from Neuer as Germany's defense opened up a bit -- finally. Xabi Alonso laid the ball off perfectly for the charging Pedro, who struck from the edge of the area. The fell came down for Iniesta, who then weaved through the box and played the ball across the goal mouth. No one for Spain was able to latch on to it, though, and Germany dodged a bullet.
52nd minute: Germany makes its first substitution. Boateng is off. Marcell Jansen is on at left back.
50th minute: Xabi Alonso runs on to a rolling ball at the edge of the box but his shot sails wide of the net.
46th minute: The second half has begun. No changes for either side.
HALFTIME: It's halftime and it's 0-0. Both teams have neutralized the other so far in this half. Germany has taken just one and shot: Trochowski's strike that stretched Casillas. Spain has dominated possession but has put just two shots on target.
45th minute: Ozil streaks down the middle of the field and trips in the box. Puyol was right next to him as he went down. Despite German shouts for a penalty kick, the referee rules the two got their feet entangled. No foul. No penalty kick.
32nd minute: Germany's best effort of the half comes off the foot of Trochowski. In for the suspended Muller, Trochowski struck the ball low and to the left corner of the net. Casillas dove that way and parried it away with both hands.
25th minute: The game has settled a bit. Spain is possessing the ball and looking to press forward with intricate passing. Germany is content to absorb the Spain attack and, as it has all tournament, looking to strike on the counter attack.
14th minute: Iniesta swings the ball in towards the penalty spot. Puyol flings himself at the ball, meeting it with his head, but pops it up over the net. The chances have fallen to the Spanish so far.
7th minute: Pedro plays Villa in towards goal with an incisive through ball. Neuer comes off his line well and beats the Spain striker to the ball, however.
1st minute: We're off. A shot at the World Cup final is at stake. These two teams last met in this kind of pressure-packed situation two years ago in the final of the European Championships. Spain won, 1-0, on a Fernando Torres goal. Torres, ineffective in this tournament, is out of the Spain lineup today.
Welcome to The Star-Ledger World Cup live blog. We'll be getting started in just a minute. In the meantime, check out the lineups on both sides.
Spain: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pique, Puyol Capdevila; Busquets, Alonso, Iniesta, Xavi, Pedro; Villa.
Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Marchena, Torres, Fabregas, Mata, Arbeloa, Llorente, Javi Martinez, Silva, Jesus Navas, Reina.
Germany: Neuer; Lahm, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Boateng; Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Trochowski, Ozil; Podolski, Klose.
Subs: Wiese, Jansen, Aogo, Tasci, Kiessling, Badstuber, Kroos, Cacau, Marin, Gomez, Butt.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)[endtext]