You wait 80 years for a Manchester City player to reach a World Cup final and then, like Ashton Old Road buses, two come at once.

Now both Nigel de Jong and David Silva face an anxious wait to see whether they will figure in Sunday’s showpiece final in Johannesburg.

Silva was again a frustrated spectator from the bench for 85 minutes as his extravagantly-talented Spanish teammates teased and taunted Germany in Durban – before winning the game, almost ironically, with a no-nonsense defender’s header from Carles Puyol.

And de Jong also watched from the sidelines on Tuesday night, suspended as his side edged past Uruguay.

That set up a Holland v Spain final which means a new name will be added to the roll of honour of winners as, incredibly, two of the greatest names in world football have never won it.

Silva’s joy meant heartbreak for another new Blue, Jerome Boateng, whose substitution on 52 minutes appeared to herald the start of an irresistible Spanish onslaught.

The German defence had been impeccable in this tournament and seemed to be gaining in assurance and composure as the tournament progressed. England found them tough to penetrate, and Argentina’s potent striking trio was blunted.

But Spain showed why they were the pre-tournament favourites by standing full square in the face of the brutal strength of Joachim Loew’s defensive ranks – and trusting in their own fast, intricate, intuitive football.

It had been Germany who went into the semi-final as the form team.

It was their midfield linchpin Bastian Schweinsteiger who has been the beating heart of his team, and in many ways of the entire tournament.

And it had been their attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil who created and conjured his way into the hearts of true football fans everywhere.

But Spain timed their ascendancy to perfection. Ozil was bypassed and eradicated, and Schweinsteiger at times looked like a bewildered infant as Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Pedro, Andres Iniesta and David Villa painted beautiful pictures on the fringes of the German penalty area.

Germany were quite content to sit deep and challenge the Spaniards to break them down.

It had worked to devastating effect against ungainly England, and had easily blunted an Argentina side which discovered that its midfield could not offer the support and service which its talented attack deserved.

But Germany’s self-assured tactics met their match in Spain. They took on the challenge, and at times had Germany reeling, leaden-footed and listing as they were pulled apart by some splendid passing football.

The frightening thing for the world is that this German side will be four years older in 2014, with Ozil, Thomas Muller, Sami Khedira and Co approaching their playing peaks.

No matter which way it goes, one Manchester City player will be wrapping his hands around the sylph-like World Cup Trophy  – and bringing some of that gold dust back with him to Eastlands.

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