Spain 1 Germany 0:A headed goal by defender Carles Puyol carried Spain to their first World Cup final after they defeated Germany 1-0 in their semi-final at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban.
In a match dominated by the European champions, Puyol finally found the mark with a powerful header from a Xavi corner in the 73rd minute.
Spain's 1-0 victory was a repeat of their win against the same opponents in the European Championship final two years ago in Vienna.
They go on to play Netherlands in the World Cup final at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Sunday.
The Dutch have been in the final twice before but have never won it so a new world champion is guaranteed.
"Players from defence to attack were extraordinary and played a great game," said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque.
Striker David Villa added: "We've shown that in the big moments we've risen to the occasion.
"It's the best game we've played. We deserved to score more but a Puyol goal put us in the final and we're exultant."
"It was very difficult tonight," said Germany captain Philipp Lahm. "We knew Spain were a favourite to win the tournament. Spain is a very strong team.
"We didn't play courageously enough in the first half. We had a chance in the second but weren't able to use it. It's a huge disappointment. We wanted to do a lot and didn't succeed."
The Spaniards dominated most of the match but struggled to finish off a German side that was lacking their usual pace.
Spain dominated possession early on and needed only five minutes to carve out their first chance against a nervous German defence.
Spain forward Pedro, who started ahead of the misfiring Fernando Torres, played the ball for David Villa, who caught Arne Friedrich napping but could not beat keeper Manuel Neuer.
With the Germans boxed into their own half, Spain kept up the pressure, with Puyol heading an Andres Iniesta cross from the right narrowly over the bar after 15 minutes.
Germany's Piotr Trochowski, who replaced the suspended Thomas Mueller on the right, stretched Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas with a well-struck low drive.
Pedro and Sergio Ramos continued to single out Germany left back Jerome Boateng as a weakness, cutting the ball back from the wing for midfielder Xabi Alonso who twice fired wide early in the second half.
The Spaniards came agonisingly close in the 58th minute with a Pedro shot that forced a spectacular save from Neuer before Iniesta cut the ball across the face of goal a metre ahead of the sliding Villa.
Germany remained on the back foot and 17 minutes from time were punished when Puyol headed home the winner.