Spain will face Holland in Sunday's World Cup final after overcoming Germany in a cagey semi-final encounter in Durban.

Carles Puyol's thumping header settled a tight game which had looked destined for extra-time until his intervention in the 73rd minute.

Germany had started the match looking to avenge their defeat to the same opposition in the 2008 European Championship final but came up against a well-disciplined and hard-working Spain team that ground out a result without really clicking into top gear.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque had sprung a surprise after dropping an out-of-form Fernando Torres to the bench and handing Barcelona youngster Pedro Pedrito a first international start.

Germany were forced into a reshuffle with Piotr Trochowski in for the suspended Thomas Muller.

Spain threatened first after dominating the possession from the opening whistle inside an expectant Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Pedro picked out the run of David Villa with a perfectly-weighted through ball but goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was alive to the danger and charged down the striker's stretching shot.

After 14 minutes Andres Iniesta whipped in a dangerous cross which Puyol headed over the bar from six yards despite being unmarked.

Germany gradually gained a foothold in the game with Bastian Schweinsteiger - who starred in Saturday's 4-0 quarter-final rout of Argentina - pulling the midfield strings.

Trochowski tested Iker Casillas with a low shot from 25 yards, while the half ended with a unsuccessfully penalty appeal when Mesut Ozil appeared to be clipped on the edge of the box by a desperate Sergio Ramos.

Spain began the second half like they started the first in control of the ball but a couple of shots from distance by Xabi Alonso and a hopeful side-foot effort from a subdued Villa were the closest they came to forcing a breakthrough.

The game sparked into life on the hour-mark when Pedro was denied by a diving Neuer after being teed up for a 15-yard shot by a combination of Xavi and Alonso.

Iniesta picked up the loose ball but his low cross bounced through the six-yard box and a tantalising few inches too far in front of Villa, who was sliding in at the back post.

Germany offered brief glimpses of counter-attacking danger as substitute Toni Kroos stretched Casillas with a low shot on the back post after Miroslav Klose had dummied Lukas Podolski's chipped cross.But with extra-time beginning to look a distinct possibility, Spain played their trump card in Puyol.

For all their pretty passing and attacking flair it was a goal straight out of the defender's handbook as the rugged Barcelona skipper rose majestically to power Xavi's corner into the back of the net with a bullet header from ten yards.

Germany pressed in the closing minutes but never looked truly capable of breaking down a well-organised defence in which Puyol and Gerard Pique were immense.

Pedro wasted a glorious chance to kill off the game in the closing minutes when he selfishly ignored the unmarked Torres and lost the ball to Arne Friedrich.It mattered little as Spain reached their ever World Cup final and guaranteed a new winner of the famous trophy in Johannesburg on Sunday.