The World Cup final lineups are officially locked in, and while Spain is rolling with the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach, Argentina is shaking things up big time. We’re talking about the current European champions facing off against the reigning world champions in New Jersey, the 104th and final match of this massive tournament. Spain, after handily beating France 2-0 in the semi-final, is the clear favorite, so maybe it’s no shock that Luis de la Fuente isn’t messing with his winning XI.
Spain Stays Steady, Argentina Swings Big
De la Fuente’s got confidence, and why not? His side just crushed France. Even with Tottenham full-back Pedro Porro battling muscle tightness, he’s fit to start. And Barcelona’s superstar Lamine Yamal, who’s had his workload carefully managed all tournament because of hamstring and groin issues, is also good to go from the jump. Yamal’s going to be tearing it up in attack with Mikel Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo, while Man City’s defensive midfield maestro Rodri, who our Senior Football Correspondent Richard Jolly called the “real player of the tournament,” captains the squad. Seriously, what a unit.
But then there’s Argentina, led by the GOAT himself, Lionel Messi, as they hunt for back-to-back titles. Lionel Scaloni isn’t playing it safe, though. He’s making three huge changes from the semi-final win over England! Nahuel Molina, Giuliano Simeone, and Leandro Paredes are all dropping to the bench. In their places, right-back Gonzalo Montiel and midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Nico Gonzalez are stepping into the starting lineup. Messi’s partner up top will still be Julian Alvarez, and the strong duo of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez are back as the starting center-backs.
The Showdown Is Set: Who Wants It More?
This isn’t just another game, it’s the World Cup final, man! With Argentina making those moves, you gotta wonder if Scaloni is trying to catch Spain off guard or if he’s just looking for a fresh spark. Here’s how they’re rolling out:
**Spain XI:** Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri; Baena Ruiz; Yamal, Oyarzabal, Olmo. What a lineup, right?
**Argentina XI:** E. Martinez; Montiel, Romero, Lis. Martinez, Tagliafico; Gonzalez, Enzo, De Paul, Mac Allister; Alvarez, Messi. That’s a bold look for the champs!
The stage is set in New Jersey for a World Cup final that’s going to be absolutely insane. Can Spain’s consistency conquer Argentina’s new look and Messi’s quest for another title? Get ready, because the biggest game in football is about to kick off, and we’re all about to find out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Leave a Reply