Spain dominated an absorbing first-half chess match but failed to break the deadlock against a Germany side who had their fair share of chances.

Both teams made one change from their regular line-up: Piotr Trochowski replaced the suspended Thomas Mueller for the Germans while out-of-form Fernando Torres was dropped in favour of Pedro Rodriguez in the Spanish side.

Germany kicked off but immediately and happily surrendered possession as they invited Spain to attack. The cagey opening was halted by an intruder streaking onto the pitch but it was the European champions who carved out the first real chance of the game on six minutes.

Pedro slipped in a sublime through ball to David Villa, who just managed to get a touch to it but it wasn’t enough to trouble an alert Manuel Neuer.

La Furia Roja continued to camp out inside the German half as Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Oezil provided glimpses of threat on the counter-attack for Die Mannschaft. But it was the Spaniards again who had the next chance after 13 minutes. From a short corner, Andres Iniesta drilled in a cross from the right flank and Carles Puyol stooped low to send a bullet header just over the bar.

Straight to the other end, an Oezil corner forced Iker Casillas to flap the ball nervously away as Joachim Loew’s side started to enjoy a bit more of composure and possession on the ball. Spain regained control as quickly as they gave it away, although they failed to create any meaningful goalscoring chances.

In fact, the next opportunity didn’t arrive until the half-hour mark and even then, Xabi Alonso’s 25-yard screamer flew wide of Neuer’s left post. Trochowski then showed how it was done when his left-footed pliedriver from a similar distance forced Casillas to make a brilliant sprawling save.

Oezil managed to create more panic in the Spain box when he shimmed past two defenders but hesitated when he prepared to pull the trigger as Puyol pinched the ball off him. Vicente del Bosque’s troops finished the half the stronger with Sergio Ramos, Iniesta and Pedro creating openings, but it was Oezil who had a penalty shout turned down right before the whistle after a challenge from Ramos.

Neither coaches made any changes of personnel at the break but it was Germany who looked the more adventurous side in the start of the second period. And it was suddenly Spain who were playing on the counter attack. Pedro bombarded 50 yards down the right wing beating a number of German defenders before pulling the ball back to Xabi Alonso, who could only fire wide despite a clean view on goal.

Seconds later, Xabi rattles in another humdinger just outside the box after being teed up by Xavi, but again his effort flashed marginally wide.

La Roja should have taken the lead on 57 minutes when they were presented with a double chance. First, Pedro’s shot on the edge of the box was parried away by Neuer. From the follow up, Iniesta’s pull-back into the middle bounced too far infront of Villa at the backpost. Pedro then dragged his shot wide before Miroslav Klose pummelled an ambitious volley well over at the other end after a poor clearance from Sergio Ramos.

The flurry of chances sparked the game to life and on 63 minutes, Xabi Alonso curled in a cross to an over-lapping Ramos, who went down under a challenge from Lukas Podolski right infront of goal but the referee only pointed to a goal-kick. Five minutes later, Villa charged past Marcell Jansen on the right channel but his fierce drive from a tight angle was saved by Neuer.

Germany then came close when Toni Kroos connected with Podolski’s cross but his soft half volley at the far post was blocked by Casillas. The Nationalelf were on the ascendecy but on 72 minutes, they were stung when Spain rocketed into the lead. Xavi swung in a corner and Carles Puyol steamed in unmarked to thump an unstoppable header past Neuer into the top corner.

The Germans immediately started pushing forward and it was Spain’s turn to hit their opponents on the counter. With ten minutes to go, La Roja should have wrapped up the semi-final when Pedro was put clean through on goal but opted to dribble his way past Arne Friedrich instead of going for goal or squaring to an unattended Fernando Torres.

Torres himself then had a chance two minutes from the end but Friedrich robbed the ball off him just as he was about to pull the trigger. Spain were enjoying a nice spell of keep-ball possession inside the German half as the clock ticked down and it was enough for them to hold on for another 1-0 win, but one that secures them a passage into the final of the 2010 World Cup.