Nearly a month and 62 matches later, the World Cup is now down to two countries: Spain and the Netherlands will meet Sunday July 11 for the final at Soccer City.

28 of the original 32 teams have now gone home, and Uruguay and Germany will play in the third-place match at Port Elizabeth on Saturday July 10. Both games will be shown on ABC at 11.30 a.m. Pacific time.

Finally the World Cup is down to two European heavyweights, each trying to win the cup for the first time. It has the potential to be a classic and enthralling match.

FINAL: July 11 at 11:30am (PT) on ABC

Netherlands vs. Spain

Match for third place: July 10 at 11:30am (PT) on ABC

Uruguay vs. Germany

Semi-Final 1

Uruguay 2 - 3 Netherlands

The Netherlands reached its first World Cup Final since 1978 by beating Uruguay 3-2 in the semi-final played in Cape Town on July 6. It’s the first time a team has scored three goals in a World Cup semi-final since 1982, when West Germany and France tied 3-3.

Dutch captain and defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst opened the scoring in the 18th minute with an incredible strike from forty two yards out. Arguably one of the best goals of the tournament, von Bronckhorst became the oldest Dutch player ever to score in a semi-final.

Diego Forlan equalized for Uruguay in the forty first minute with his fourth goal of the tournament.

Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben scored three minutes apart in the second half to all but assure the Netherlands a place in the final.

Max Pereira scored in the 90th minute to give Uruguay a lifeline, but the Netherlands hung on to clinch it 3-2.

Semi-Final 2

Germany 0 – 1 Spain

Euro 2008 champions Spain overhauled Germany in Durban July 7, to secure their first World Cup final place. In a rematch of the 2008 Euro final, which Spain won 1-0, Carles Puyol’s 74th-minute header repeated the single-goal triumph over Germany.

Spain dominated the first half and might have taken an early lead in the sixth minute when Pedro put the ball through to David Villa who brought a good save from German keeper Neuer.

Casillas, Spain’s goalkeeper, was only brought into action after 30 minutes when he turned behind a low drive from Trochowski.

The second half was very much like the first with Spain increasingly threatening the German goal.

The decisive goal came in the sixteenth minute. Xavi took a corner and Puyol leapt above team-mate Pique to forcefully connect with the ball and send it soaring past Neuer.

A wonderfully taken goal that ultimately ensured Spain were at their first ever FIFA World Cup Final.