Spain and Germany were still searching for a breakthrough after the first half of their heavyweight World Cup semi-final in Durban.

The Euro 2008 winners dominated possession and Manuel Neuer made a brave block to deny David Villa, but Iker Casillas made the better save when he scrambled Piotr Trochowski's low shot round the post.

The half was briefly interrupted by a supporter running onto the field carrying a vuvuzela, however he was quickly caught by security guards, who he had initially evaded.

Fernando Torres paid the price for his failure to find the net in this World Cup by being dropped to the bench for Spain's World Cup semi-final against Germany.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque made just one change from the team that overcame Paraguay in the quarter-final, bringing in Barcelona forward Pedro for the Liverpool striker.

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas had been in the running to start instead of Torres too but his knock in training on Monday may have counted against him.

Germany were without the suspended Thomas Muller - who had scored four goals in five games - and he was replaced by Piotr Trochowski.

The starting line-up for Spain were all at Spanish clubs last season and all the Germany XI played in the Bundesliga.

Although they have won so many admirers for the manner of their performances in South Africa, this promised to be an altogether different test for Germany.

Spain were aiming to become the first country to follow up European Championship success by lifting the World Cup since West Germany did the double in 1972 and 1974 and started with confidence.

Pedro threaded a superb ball through the German defence which David Villa slid on to.

But Manuel Neuer was out quickly and made a brave block.

Per Mertesacker headed a Pedro chip out of his own penalty area as Villa buzzed around dangerously once more.

Andres Iniesta almost dribbled into the German penalty area as Spain continued to dominate possession.

The Barcelona playmaker then drove a low cross into the penalty area following an intricate move from a corner which Carles Puyol flung himself at but sent a diving header soaring over

After spending the opening 14 minutes on the back foot, Germany finally won a corner which nearly caught Iker Casillas out.

The Spain skipper got himself out of position as he came to punch and ended up just pushing Mesut Ozil's set-piece away, although the intervention was crucial given Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arne Friedrich were lurking just behind.

Sergio Ramos drove an ambitious shot wide from a very acute angle, then Pedro just failed to collect Villa's lay-off as Spain regained the initiative.

It took a superb intervention from Mertesacker to prevent Pedro racing on to Xavi's pass.

Then, as Germany countered, Miroslav Klose opted to go it alone rather than roll a pass to an unmarked Piotr Trochowski and lost possession to the edge of the Spain box.

An attempted scissor-kick from Pedro failed to come off before Ramos' attempt to tackle Lukas Podolski only resulted in him stamping on the German's foot.

It took Germany almost half an hour to enjoy their first sustained period of possession, which Ozil brought to an end by launching a long ball for Klose which was far too heavy and rolled out for a goal kick.

Xabi Alonso tried his luck from long distance at the other end but the former Liverpool man's shot was off target.

Germany were starting to have more of the game and Trochowski had Casillas scrambling to his left to make a low save.

The Spain goalkeeper came out to punch a couple of crosses away shortly afterwards as Germany started to realise a more aerial route to goal may pay dividends.

Ozil wasted an opening when he tried, and failed, to skip past Puyol on the edge of the area when Podolski was better placed.

Germany might have had a penalty when Ramos stumbled into Ozil just before the break but referee Viktor Kassai waved away the claims.