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Spain beaten by late Kroos missile

Toni Kroos struck with a fierce long-range shot a minute from time to give Germany a 1-0 victory over Spain in a friendly between two injury-depleted European heavyweights in Vigo on Tuesday. Kroos’s effort settled a match played in lashing rain that was short on chances although goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, who came off the bench to make his Spain debut, will be furious he let the ball past him after getting into position to palm it away.

Germany forward Mario Goetze, who scored the winner against Argentina in July’s World Cup final, had gone closest on a foul night in Galicia but Casillas brilliantly saved his 20th-minute effort.

Beating the 2010 World Cup winners and 2012 European champions was a fitting way for Germany to end a stellar year during which they claimed their fourth World Cup crown. Spain, who beat Germany 1-0 in the semi-finals four years ago the last time they met, will now have to pick themselves up and continue rebuilding after their failed title defence in Brazil.

We know we are in a period of transition and are optimistic about the future. The match was very even. Either team could have won and it was only the Kroos goal that decided it,’ Spain coach Vicente del Bosque told a news conference.
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