Puyol Heads Spain To World Cup Final With Holland
Write-up by Suresh Iyer
Spain created it to their first ever before Earth Cup ultimate, thank you to a Puyol header in 74th minute of their semi-final against Germany in Durban.
After their fourth win on the trot, Spain head for Soccer City wherever they will consider on Holland on Sunday.
Spain dominated possession in a win that was not the vintage class we have arrive to count on of Spain.
The game was not as patchy as Spain’s displaying from Paraguay, but Del Bosque’s men failed to create openings.
Puyol missed a sitter in the very first half but far more than produced up with his header into the net, off Xavi’s corner, with a minor more than sixteen minutes to go.
A counter-attacking run by Pedro should have produced it 2-, but the young forward tried to do it all himself, as a substitute of passing to an unmarked Torres, who arrived in for Villa, with 10 minutes of regulation time remaining.
Germany, almost certainly wary of Spain’s creativeness in front of goal, played an overly defensive game, and failed to consider the game to Spain even though the heading was very good.
With four targets in every of their previously matches against England and Argentina, Germany have been expected to be a lot more pro-active in attack.
But Spain gave them few counter attacking possibilities, and Germany ended up on the losing facet in their second successive Earth Cup semi-last.
Having decided to drop the out of kind Torres, Del Bosque employed Villa as his lone striker and drafted Pedro to bolster the Spain assault.
Germany played an organized game and stood up to Spain even as Del Bosque’s group dominated midfield with deft passing.
Barely five minutes into the match, Pedro teed the ball in to Villa who minimize through the German defence for a shot at goal but Neuer introduced off a good conserve, and the danger was past.
In other missed possibilities, a Puyol header off an Iniesta cross went more than the bar, and a Sergio Ramos’ shot off an aerial cross-subject pass from Xabi Alonso went wide off target.
Germany received their 1st counter attacking option in the 22nd minute, but the move fizzled out with bad coordination between Pudolski and Oezil.
Germany need to rue what they thought was a penalty possibility in damage time in the course of the very first 50 percent, Oezil collapsing in the box, beneath a problem from Ramos. Oezil was place by means of by means of an incisive pass from Klose, but the referee almost certainly felt the initial speak to was created outdoors the box.
In the second 50 percent, Spain grew progressively threatening, maintaining possession of the ball, and hovering close to the German goal.
Spain’s dominance was underscored by a couple of extensive shots from Alonso, a reduced curling work from Villa, and a Pedro shot that essential Neuer to provide off a sharp preserve.
Marcell Jansen and Toni Kroos came in for Jerome Boateng and Trochowski as Loew tried to break the defensive stalemate for Germany.
Podolski’s cross to Kroos tested Casillas in target, but the Puyol match-winner arrived moments later on.
About the Author
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Suresh Iyer is an avid sports fan and blogger.