World Cup Countdown: Carles Puyol makes Spanish history on 73 minutes | OneFootball

2010 was the World Cup where tiki-taka won out.

The short passing game, born from the mind of Johan Cruyff and perfected by Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, conquered the grandest stage of them all when Spain won their first ever world title in South Africa.

Keeping it on the deck may have been the mantra, but it was the head of captain Carles Puyol that got La Roja to the final in the first place.

Facing Germany in the last four, Vicente del Bosque’s side went into the game in Durban looking to create history. They’d won every knockout match 1-0 up to that point – but it looked to all intents and purposes that their streak of tight wins would end as the game dwindled down towards extra time without a goal being scored.

But that was until the 73rd minute.

A corner from Xavi on the left-hand side seemed to be overhit slightly. The arc of his cross not quite aiming for the danger zone inside the six yard box.

Out of nowhere though, the towering centre-back with his mop of wild hair jumped for what seemed like an eternity and crashed home a superb header past Manuel Neuer and into the back of the net.

Spain may have won that day, but it was a goal made in Barcelona and scored in the most anti-Barça way possible.