DURBAN, South Africa (AP) — Carles Puyol powered in a header in the 73rd minute to send Spain to its first World Cup final with a 1-0 win over Germany.
In a rematch of the 2008 European Championship final that Spain won by the same score, Puyol leaped up high in the center of the area to redirect a corner kick from Xavi, finally putting Spain in front after it dominated from the opening whistle.
Spain’s best previous World Cup finish was fourth in 1950, when the final round consisted of a four-team round-robin format.
In Sunday’s final in Soccer City, Spain will meet the Netherlands, which also has never won soccer’s biggest prize.
