World Cup Today

A look at Day 27 Wednesday at the 2010 World Cup (all times EDT):

RESULTS

Spain 1, Germany 0, Spain advances to Sunday's final; Germany will play in Saturday's third-place match.

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HISTORY

Spain will be in the World Cup final for the first time after beating Germany 1-0. The Spaniards won the European Championship two years ago, their first major title since winning the same crown in 1964. They will face the Dutch, who also have not won a World Cup.

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STAR

Carles Puyol, using a screen from teammate Gerard Pique, powered home a header in the 73rd minute to lift Spain past Germany 1-0 and into the final. Puyol also had a strong game on defense for the Spanish, who will play Netherlands. Both teams are going for their first World Cup title.

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GOAL OF THE DAY

Carles Puyol leaped fully into a header off a corner kick by Xavi and sent the ball past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the 73rd minute to lift Spain into the World Cup final 1-0.

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INTERLOPER

A male fan carrying a vuvuzela ran onto the field early in the semifinal at Durban. He entered the field near German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and sprinted almost to midfield before he was caught by police. His hands were clasped behind his back and he was quickly taken to the sideline and lifted over the boards. Police then sprinted with the man to a tunnel as play resumed. He was wearing a T-shirt that had "peace in the world" and a Superman emblem on the front.

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RUGBY CITY?

South Africa's world champion Springboks will play New Zealand in a rugby match at Soccer City, the venue for the World Cup final. South Africa Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins said Wednesday it was a "groundbreaking decision" to move the Aug. 21 Tri-Nations game between the Springboks and the All Blacks to the "iconic" 88,791-seat stadium.

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DUTCH PARTIES

On Sunday, Amsterdam authorities expect at least 100,000 viewers to flock to the Museum square to watch their team's first final in 32 years. The Dutch have never won the most prized trophy in soccer, and they lost back-to-back finals in 1974 and 1978.

Win or lose, the Dutch team will also be welcomed home on Tuesday with a massive parade through Amsterdam's canals. At least 1.5 million people, twice the city's resident population, are expected to attend.

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LOOKAHEAD

Sunday's final features the Netherlands, in its first World Cup title match since 1978, when it lost to Argentina, and Spain, also in its first World Cup final. The Dutch lost the 1974 final to Germany; both of those opponents were playing in their homeland.

The teams never have played a World Cup match. They each have four wins and one draw in all-time meetings.

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QUOTABLE

"The group deserves this, but we want more. We are happy to be in the final, that was our objective, but now we want to be champions." - Spain striker David Villa after a 1-0 victory over Germany lifted the Spaniards into Sunday's World Cup title game against the Netherlands.