Spain vs. Argentina Predicted Lineups: Projected Starting XI for the World Cup Final

In a historic first, the reigning champions of South America and Europe will collide for the World Cup title as Argentina and Spain prepare to face off this Sunday. This final presents a clash between Unai Simon and the tournament’s most disciplined defense—Spain has conceded only a single goal across seven matches. On the other side, Lionel Messi continues his pursuit of the Golden Boot, having already recorded eight goals and four assists in the competition.

The matchup serves as a classic confrontation between an unstoppable force and an immovable object. While Argentina has netted nine goals throughout the tournament, Spain has been even more prolific with 11 goals scored. Rather than simply outscoring opponents, Luis de la Fuente’s side relies on dominant possession; Rodri anchors the midfield to prevent counterattacks, while Pedri and Fabian Ruiz dictate the tempo to drive the team forward.

Spain’s ability to find the net even when not playing at their peak has been a hallmark of their campaign. While Lamine Yamal has found the net once and Nico Williams has seen limited action due to injury concerns, the “Mikel factor” has been decisive. Mikel Oyarzabal and Mikel Merino have combined for seven goals, trailing only Messi in total contributions. Notably, Oyarzabal is expected to start, though de la Fuente’s tactical flexibility has seen the entire squad heavily involved in their success.

Conversely, while Argentina possesses significant depth, their offensive momentum is heavily centered on the brilliance of Messi. In contrast, Spain’s scoring is more distributed. Argentina’s defense has faced challenges on the flanks, and Lionel Scaloni’s decision to shift Rodrigo De Paul to the bench in favor of Giuliano Simeone during the semifinals against England may carry over into the final. Both managers have benefitted from relatively healthy squads, allowing them to rely on their most consistent lineups throughout the tournament.

Expectation favors a starting lineup for Spain featuring Yamal and Alex Baena, while Nico Williams is unlikely to start given the current momentum. As the two giants prepare to meet on Sunday, the question remains: how will these tactical setups manifest on the world’s biggest stage?

Predicted lineups

• Spain predicted XI: Unai Simon; Marc Cucurella, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Pedro Porro; Fabian Ruiz, Rodri, Dani Olmo; Alex Baena, Mikel Oyarzabal, Lamine Yamal
• Argentina predicted XI: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Christian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Giuliano Simeone; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez

How to watch Argentina vs. Spain

Date: Sunday, July 19 | Time: 3 pm ET
Location: MetLife Stadium — East Rutherford, N.J.
TV: Fox (Eng), Telemundo (Spa) | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)
Odds: Spain +130; Draw +195; Argentina +275

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