Minute-by-minute match report on Spain’s 1-0 victory over Germany in the semi-final of World Cup 2010. Online commentary by Newstalk World Cup contributor, Ger McCarthy.
Welcome along everyone for minute by minute coverage of the World Cup semi final between Germany and Spain. Stay tuned for up to the minute coverage on Newstalk.ie.
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PREVIEW
The two countries who clashed in the European Championships final just two years ago meet in Durban tonight to battle it our for the right to face the Netherlands in the World cup final next Sunday in Johannesburg.
Germany are looking to avenge the 1-0 Euro 2008 defeat at the hands of Spain and continue with the irresistible counter-attacking style which has seen them score eight goals (4-1 v England and 4-0 v Argentina) en-route to the semi-finals.
Spain are 90 minutes away from a first ever appearance in a World Cup final and have been workmanlike rather than brilliant in their path to the last four. Spain’s attacking potential is there for all to see with the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and David Villa likely to feature heavily in Durban this evening. The Spaniards defence has only conceded twice in the tournament thus far though and how Capdevilla, Puyol, Pique and Casillas perform will ultimately decide their fate.
Germany are in a similar position coming into the semi-final despite notable displays over England and Argentina. The question marks still hanging over a German defence yet to be truly tested in the competition persist and Spain are certain to stretch the likes of Mertesacker, Lahm and Freidrich to the absolute limit.
PRE-MATCH QUOTES
German Coach Joachim Loew: “We are not talking about the title, or winning the World Cup. We are now talking about winning the semi-final and going to the Final – one step at a time. Spain will be difficult and they are my favourites to win. Once we have made it past this hurdle, we can then start talking about the title”.
Switzerland boss Ottmar Hitzfeld oversaw Spain’s only defeat at the World Cup 2010 and feels Germany has a real chance of progressing: “I think that the Spanish way of playing will suit Germany. Spain like to attack, and their full backs, Sergio Ramos and Joan Capdevila, get forward a lot. That means that there is often space on the flanks which the German players will be able to exploit. That is an Achilles heel for Spain and Germany can cause them problems there”.
Former German manager and player Franz Beckenbauer: “Germany have never before played like this. The way they play, their style, is fantastic. Everybody on the move, wanting the ball – the team spirit is tremendous. Nobody in Germany expected to see them play so well. This team shows the new face of Germany, thanks to some of the players who were not born in Germany but who have a German passport”.
Fernando Torres – Spain striker: “It will be like a final. We know them. We are a very offensive team and they are maybe the most exciting team at this World Cup”.
Iker Casillas – Spain Goalkeeper: “We know the Germany match is the most important in our history – more than the Euro 2008 final”.
David Villa – Spain striker: “We beat Germany two years ago and I don’t think they are happy to meet us again but we have to forget about that game. Without a World Cup [win], it’s like we’ve achieved nothing”.
TEAM SHEETS
Germany: 1-Manuel Neuer; 16-Philipp Lahm, 3-Arne Friedrich, 17-Per Mertesacker, 20-Jerome Boateng, 15-Piotr Trochowski, 6-Sami Khedira, 7-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 10-Lukas Podolski, 8-Mesut Ozil, 11-Miroslav Klose.
Spain: 1-Iker Casillas; 15-Sergio Ramos, 3-Gerard Pique, 5-Carles Puyol, 11-Joan Capdevila; 14-Xabi Alonso, 8-Xavi, 6-Andres Iniesta, 16-Sergio Busquets; 18-Pedro, 7-David Villa.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary).
PRE-MATCH
The Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban is certain to be full tonight ahead of the most eagerly anticipated World Cup semi-final for decades. Pedro in for Fernando Torres and Piotr Trochowski replacing Thomas Mueller are the only changes on either side from their respective starting quarter final XI’s.
A place in Sunday’s World Cup final against the Netherlands awaits the winner of tonight’s encounter. Can Spain overcome the devastating counter-attacking style of the Germans or will Joachim Low’s side be able to break down a star-studded Spanish outfit?
We are about to find out.
PRE-KICK OFF
The sides are nervously lining-up in the tunnel ahead of kick off. Germany are the FIFA designated ‘home’ team and will be in their traditional colours of white jerseys, black shorts and white socks. Spain are togged out in red jerseys, light-blue shorts and red socks. Just minutes to kick-off now.
National anthems are being played with determined faces all round.
Referee Viktor Kassai from Hungary and the respective Captains gets the pre-match formalities over with and we are seconds from kick off.
FIRST HALF
1: Germany get things underway in front of a huge attendance at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
1: Vuvuzelas are resonating all over the stadium as Spain quickly settle into their neat passing style.
2: First Spanish foray forwards results in Capdevilla’s cross rolling out for a goal-kick. Cagey start from both sides with neither team prepared to commit too many players forward so far.
3: Germany are having to concede territory in the early exchanges as a Pedro run into the box results in a hasty clearance from Freidrich.
There is a fan on the pitch and he has been apprehended and likely to get his head bate off him with the Vuvuzela he was waving.
4: Nothing much of note happening – apart from the pitch invader – with Spain bossing possession but getting little change out of a well organised German back four. Lahm dispossesses Pedro once again but Germany unable to launch anything of note in the Spanish half yet.
6: CHANCE
Villa got in behind the German defence and slid in only to be denied by an alert Neuer who was quickly off his line to prevent Germany from falling behind.
7: That Villa opportunity has opened play up but Germany are slack in the Spanish half again resulting in a loose pass handing possession back to their opponents. Sergio Ramos fed Pedro but his chip into the area was headed clear by Friedrich. Spain doing all the early pressing.
8: Dominant period of pressure from the Spaniards comes to nothing and Germany go long in search of Klose who forces Pique to nod back to his keeper. Ozil is played in but the offside flag is up and Spain start from deep once again.
10: Ramos and Pedro are seeing plenty of the ball on both wings as Iniesta’s dangerous dribble is hastily cleared by a panicked German defence. Tempo of the game being dictated by a neat and tidy Spanish side. German rearguard holding for now.
12: Spain go from one side of the pitch to the other but the German midfield led by the influential Bastian Schweinsteiger are closing down all the gaps. Ramos wins the first corner of the game off Boateng in the 12th minute.
12: CHANCE
Puyol cannons a diving header over the bar from 5 yards out after glorious inter-play between Xavi, Alonso and Iniesta from a short corner. Del Bosque’s side making all the early chances but unable to convert into goals.
14: A good move from deep in their own half earns the Germans a corner after Pique headed Ozil’s centre away. The resulting set-piece had Casillas stretching to flick clear for yet another corner. The Spanish number one punches the second in-swinger well clear and his side eventually earn a goal-kick.
16: Germany enjoying some possession in the Spanish half but a series of throw-ins comes to nothing. Nobody is getting a moment to settle in midfield with both sides closing down at the earliest opportunity. Long ball attempting to release Podolski goes out of play.
20: With so much at stake both sides can be forgiven for being a little nervous. Spain created the only two chances of note thus far but Germany remain comfortable with numbers behind the ball. A long raking Alonso pass finds Sergio Ramos but the Real Madrid player shoots wide from a tight angle.
20: Spain re-assert control in the centre of the park with some quick passes almost releasing Villa until Per Mertesacker intervenes to clear. Pedro has looked busy all through but both he and Villa have yet to click up front.
23: Lovely Spanish move down the left wing releases Iniesta but the Spanish midfielder is stopped by Khedira who concedes a corner that Germany easily clear. Spain win the ball back but Xavi’s attempted through ball for Villa is intercepted by Mertesacker. Within a minute Klose turns in the opposite penalty area but the Spanish defence recovers in time.
25: Scrappy few minutes sees Villa shot from the edge of the area easily blocked by the German defence and then a wild Pedro attempt is easily gathered by Neuer. Neither side is prepared to commit numbers forward and it is going to take something special to break the deadlock.
27: Injury to Podolski brings a halt to a tight, tense encounter full of fine movement and passing but no cutting edge from either side in the final third. The Germans play keep-ball in their own half under pressure from a harrying Spanish midfield until an over-hit pass from Ozil fails to find Klose.
29: CHANCE
Xabi Alonso tried his luck from long range with a posse of German defenders around him but his 20 yard effort flew well wide of the target. Spain have had 4 attempts and Germany none in the opening half hour. Defences on top so far.
32: CHANCE
Friedrich concedes a throw and Spain attempt to work the ball across the area but Germany clear and quick counter-attack finds Piotr Trochowski whose long range right-footed effort from 25 yards forces Casillas to go full-length to finger-tip his daisy cutter around the upright. Klose causes panic form the resulting corner but Spain manage to hack clear. Best moment of the game thus far from the Germans.
33: Germany are coming forward with a bit more urgency since that Trochowski effort and Puyol has to slide in to concede another corner after a good run from Ozil. Casillas twice has to come from his line to punch clear from the resulting German corner. Spain fail to see an unmarked Villa from the ensuing counter–attack.
35: Iniesta is crowded out by a gang of German defenders on the edge of the area when the midfielder attempted to release Pedro in behind the back four. Game becoming stretched now with sides attacking at will.
36: Late but correct offside flag ends Podolski’s attempt to race clear and Spain quickly move the ball up the other end of the pitch but Alonso’s incisive pass catches Capdevilla by surprise and rolls out for a goal-kick. If ever a game needed a goal it is this semi final.
38: Ozil’s attempt to dance around a couple of defenders comes to nothing after a sweeping German move pushed the Spanish back onto the edge of their own penalty area.
41: Xavi rolls a free from the right wing to Pedro. Spain work the ball across the pitch but are forced all the way back to Casillas as the Germans close down effectively.
40: The opening half has been cagey and yet engaging between two evenly matched sides that are still shadow boxing one another. Spain move the ball beautifully out of their left corner with a series of one touch passes and win a throw-in further up the pitch. A Capdevilla run and cross is cleared by the Germans but Spain come again until Boateng fouls Iniesta and concedes a free.
43: Spain finish the opening half in the ascendancy as another deep cross just evades David Villa although there were plenty of German defenders in attendance. Loew’s side move the ball into the Spanish half but are forced back by a pressing defence.
44: The dancing feet of Pedro wins a corner at the expense of Boateng. Xavi’s delivery is just missed by Capdevilla and Germany’s Neuer comes from his line to easily claim another hopeful ball into the area.
45: CHANCE
Ozil is played into the Spanish box but falls over looking for a penalty under the challenge of Puyol. Referee correctly waves play on. Pedro breaks at the other end but Neuer is equal to the hopeful long range effort.
HALF TIME
Germany 0 Spain 0
HALF TIME ANALYSIS
Spain have created the only chances of note in a cagey, tense but ultimately disappointing first 45 minutes. Germany are happy to concede possession and get numbers behind the ball but are not enjoying the same results when they break from deep as they did against England and Argentina.
A goal would blow this semi-final wide open but with each side amassing two banks of four behind the ball every time they defend it is going to take something extraordinary to break the deadlock.
SECOND HALF
46: Spain restart proceedings.
46: Ramos releases Pedro down the right flank but his lofted cross finds no one and goes out for a throw. No changes on either side. Klose and Khedira combine on the edge of the box and find Trochowski whose shot is blocked by two Spanish defenders.
47: CHANCE
Great dribble from Pedro twisted inside and out two German defenders. His offload to Alonso results in the Real Madrid ace firing well wide from 20 yards out. He should have done better with that effort.
49: CHANCE
An almost identical move sees Pedro knock the ball back to Alonso on the edge of the area but once again his first time effort goes wide but closer than his last effort and Neuer had to go full length just to be sure. It is all Spain since the resumption.
51: SUB
Germany
Disappointed Boateng Off
Marcell Jansen On
53: The pattern of the game has not changed since the turnaround with Spain doing all the probing and Germany happy to concede territory until attempting to break from deep. The difference between this and previous German performances is that Spain are quicker at closing them down when they counter-attack resulting in stalemate.
55: CHANCE
David Villa screws an unconvincing effort wide of the upright from the corner of the area after neat approach play by Pedro, Xavi and Iniesta. This game has penalties written all over it unless someone can create a moment of magic.
56: Jansen’s first contribution since coming on sees the German sub’s cross headed away by Puyol. It would be a shame to see this one stay 0-0right through extra time and be decided on penalties but with neither side likely to take a chance on pushing extra men forward so that is where we are headed.
57: CHANCE
Spain’s best moments of the semi-final so far. Pedro brought the best out of Neuer from 2o yards with the German keeper diving to his right to save a certain opener. Germany failed to clear the rebound and Iniesta danced into the left hand side of the area and his low ball across the six yard box was inches away from being slid in by Villa.
60: Germany respond with an attempted Klose volley over his shoulder flying just beyond the goal. Spain immediately flow down the other end of the pitch but Jansen concedes a throw with Ramos about to centre.
61: SUB
Germany
Trochowski Off
Toni Kross On
63: CHANCE
Alonso picked out a darting run from Ramos at the far post but Jansen did enough to prevent the right back from getting his head on the ball. Spanish appeals for a penalty are quickly waved away by the referee.
65: The German defence is under constant pressure since the beginning of the second period and Spain deserve a goal but a succession of opportunities have gone a begging. The Germans defence is rock solid and well disciplined and while living dangerously at times they remain comfortable for now.
66: Another flowing Spanish move results in Capdevilla’s cross being headed away by Friedrich. Spain retain possession though and David Villa’s low centre forces Neuer to dive on the ball on the edge of the six yard box. It is all Spain and surely only a matter of time before they score.
68: CHANCE
Germany’s first attack of the second half sees a dinked cross to the far post fall to the feet of the unmarked Kroos but his first time side-footed effort is pushed away by Casillas. Germany come again with another centre headed on by Mertasacker and he wins a corner.
70: The resulting corner is cleared by the Spaniards but Germany quickly retains possession thanks to a timely Bastian Schweinsteiger interception. His cross finds the grateful hands of Casillas. Iniesta wins a corner for Spain in the next attack.
72: GOAL Germany 0 Spain 1
It’s been coming.
Xavi’s corner swung into the middle of a crowded penalty area found the in-rushing and completely unmarked Carlos Puyol who thumped a header past a stranded Neuer from 10 yards out. German defence switched off at the worst possible moment and Spain punished them for it.
74: Now we will see what the Germans are really made of. Loew’s side has little option but to push forward and Khedira wins a free-kick 30 yards out centre-pitch. Kroos’ lofted effort almost reaches Klose but Casillas is out quickly to gather. A beautiful counter-attack from the Spanish including some neat one touch flicks comes to nothing.
78: Corner to the Germans is cleared at the second attempt by the Spanish defence. Lahm continues the German pressing with a run and cross needs a brave Pique header to clear the danger for the second time in as many minutes.
80: SUB
Germany
Khedira Off
Gomez On
Spain
Torres On
Villa Off
79: Spain break from their own half with David Villa taking on two German defenders. His attempted pass to release Xavi is hacked clear. The game is becoming stretched with both sides counter-attacking every chance they get now.
80: CHANCE
A Jansen run and cross finds the head of Gomez but he is falling backwards as he connects and Spain clear. Pedro bursts clear up the other end but inexplicably dallied on the ball as he tried to dribble around a German defender who eventually recovered to clear. Torres was free in acres of space and completely unmarked.
That was the winning of the tie right there, terrible play from Pedro not to pass to Torres.
83: A German free-kick instigates a bout of head tennis from the Spanish defence who eventually clear. Bastian Schweinsteiger is felled on the edge of the area but no free-kick. Pedro is hauled off for failing to pass to Torres and David Silva comes on in his place.
86: Lahm’s deep cross almost finds the lurking Klose but Spain manage to divert the ball away and another quick counter-attack comes to nothing. Both sides look absolutely drained after their efforts but can Germany find an equaliser?
87: Torres springs the German offside trap and forces Friedrich to concede a corner after a mazy dribble from the Liverpool striker. Short corner from the Spaniards sees them retain possession in the German half. 20 passes later Silva, Iniesta and Xavi combine to win another corner. Clock being eaten away as Germany struggle to get on the ball.
90: We are into the first of three injury time minutes as Germany press forward only to see Spain unceremoniously wallop the ball clear down the pitch. Gomez almost breaks free a few minutes later but once again Spain’s defence is on hand.
90+: There is no passing this Spanish defence as Marchena comes on for the excellent Xabi Alonso. Spain have done enough to win this and are minutes away from a first World Cup final appearance.
FULL TIME
Germany 0 Spain 1
FULL TIME ANALYSIS
Spain are deservedly into their first ever World Cup final appearance against the Netherlands next Sunday after converting one of the many chances they created against a tired looking German side. Loew’s young charges did their best and have lit up an otherwise disappointing tournament but had no answer to the incessant passing and movment of a wonderful Spanish side.
Del Bosque’s team kept the ball superbly and forced the Germans to chase for much of the 90 minutes with Xavi and Iniesta imperious in the centre of the park. Spain should have scored more than once with all the opportunities they created but are sure to prove the toughest of opponents for Holland in the final.
Germany appeared to run out of steam following their earlier exploits in the knockout stages which saw them defeat England and Argentina. Spain just proved cuter and more experienced opponents on the night. The gulf in class between the sides was brutally exposed with Spain completely dominating possession and taking their rightful place in the final.
Thanks for your company!
Ger McCarthy
