Skip to main content

SPAIN 1 - GERMANY 0


Spain needed a 73rd minute goal from defender Carles Puyol to edge past Germany 1-0 on Wednesday and set up a World Cup final against Netherlands. Puyol climbed above the defence to head the winner from a Xavi corner and send Spain to their first World Cup final.

The Spaniards dominated most of the match but struggled to finish off a German side that was lacking their usual pace. European champions Spain dominated possession early on and needed only five minutes to carve out their first chance against a nervous German defence.

Spain forward Pedro, who started ahead of the misfiring Fernando Torres, played the ball for David Villa, who caught Arne Friedrich napping but could not beat keeper Manuel Neuer. With the Germans, who lost the Euro 2008 final to the Spaniards by the same score, boxed into their own half, Spain kept up the pressure, with Puyol heading an Andres Iniesta cross from the right narrowly over the bar after 15 minutes.

The Spaniards came agonisingly close in the 58th minute with a Pedro shot that forced a spectacular save from Neuer before Iniesta cut the ball across the face of goal a metre ahead of the sliding Villa. Germany remained on the backfoot and 17 minutes from time were punished when Puyol headed home the winner.

Spain will face Netherlands at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Sunday. The Dutch have been in the final twice before but have never won it so a new world champion is guaranteed.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

ARGENTINA WIN RECORD 16TH COPA AMERICA

Argentina won a record 16th Copa America title by beating Colombia 1-0 thanks to an extra-time goal from Lautaro Martinez . La Albiceleste 's latest title comes on the back of their triumphs at the 2022 World Cup and 2021 Copa America. The victory gives eight-times Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi the perfect sendoff in what is likely his last international tournament. The win, which saw Argentina move ahead of Uruguay after the pair had been tied on 15 Copa titles, marked Angel di Maria 's final international match. Martinez, who came off the bench in extra time, latched onto a precise through ball from Giovani Lo Celso before lifting his effort over advancing Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas in the 112th minute to spark wild celebrations at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida. The defeat ended a Colombian record 28-match unbeaten streak for Nestor Lorenzo 's side, whose last loss also came against 'La Albiceleste' in February 2022. Colombia captain James...

QF: GERMANY 4 - ARGENTINA 0

Thomas Muller and Miroslav Klose were on target once more as Germany booked their World Cup semi-final place at the expense of Argentina. Muller netted the last two goals in the 4-1 win over England last time but was quicker off the mark in Cape Town, heading home in the third minute as Joachim Low's side made a blistering start. Klose, who had scored the opener against England, then tapped home a 67th minute second. Arne Friedrich netted a third seven minutes later and Klose scored his second with a minute to go to make sure of the success over Diego Maradona's men. The victory means Germany will now face Spain or Paraguay on Wednesday for a place in next Sunday's final.   WORLD CUP     3-5-2 FOOTBALL    NOBLESTAR   Not enough FOOTBALL ??? Click HERE!

ENGLAND IN EURO FINAL AFTER WIN OVER DENMARK

England reached their first major tournament final since 1966 after defeating Denmark 2-1 in Euro quarterfinals. Captain Harry Kane fired his side into European Championship final by tapping in the rebound to his saved penalty in extra-time. Despite being tired of traveling, Denmark showed a lot of determination from the kick-off. Mikkel Damsgaard ended England's run of clean sheets with a superb freekick to beat Jordan Pickford in the 30th minute. The Three Lions responded with increasing the pressure on Denmark. Nine minutes later, Bukayo Saka delivered a fine pass into the danger area for Raheem Sterling , but was intercepted by Simon Kjaer and the ball ended into his own net. ASIA SPORTS CHANNEL The 1-1 score remained until the full time whistle. As the match got into the extra-time, England pegged back a tiring Denmark side. In the 103rd minute, Sterling was brought down in the penalty area by Joakim Maehle . Kane took the spotkick, Kasper Schmeichel saved it but the...