Loew won’t get much argument. Not after the way the reigning European champions dismantled a team that had been rolling through South Africa, winning on Carles Puyol’s thunderous header off a corner kick late in the second half.
Spain has been the best team in Europe all the world, really for much of the last four years. It’s lost all of two games since November 2006, one a shocker to Switzerland in the group-stage opener. It clinched its first major title in 44 years by beating Germany at the 2008 European Championship.By an identical 1-0 score, no less.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said, ''But that is due to the excellent performance of our team.'' The score may have been 1-0, but don’t let that fool you. Spain dominated this game from the opening whistle. It pressured Germany relentlessly, and had a 13-5 advantage in shots on goal.
Finally, after coming on back-to-back plays in the 57th minutes Xavi swung a corner kick right into the scrum in front of the goal in the 73rd. With fellow defender and Barcelona teammate Gerard Pique next to him and screening Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer’s view, Puyol leaped and got his head on the ball into the net.
As the German's watched in dismay, the Spanish players gathered for a group hug at the edge of the box, bouncing up and down and rubbing each other’s heads.
Villa said, ''We’ve shown that in the big moments we can grow even more, We should have scored more goals, but one from Puyol has put us in the final.''
Germany finally threatened on 32 minutes when Piotr Trochowski, in for the suspended Thomas Mueller, shot from distance and forced Iker Casillas into a sprawling save low to his left.
Mesut Ozil thought he should have had a penalty on the stroke of half-time when he went down under a challenge from Ramos but his appeals were waved away by referee Viktor Kassai.
For all their pretty approach play, Spain were struggling to get into the box and started hitting pot shots from distance with Alonso, twice, and Villa shooting wide.
Neuer then saved from Pedro, who moments later shot wide while Villa was inches away from a tap-in after Iniesta jinked into the box and squared the ball across goal.
Up the other end substitute Marcell Jansen's cross was flicked on by a Spanish head, but on the turn Miroslav Klose could only volley high.
And on 69 minutes Germany created possibly their best chance of the match as substitute Toni Kroos arrived unmarked at the back post onto Lukas Podolski's cross but his finish was weak and straight at Casillas.
But then came Puyol's great leap to propel Spain into the final.