Spain names unchanged lineup for World Cup final, Netherlands makes 2 changes

Spain names unchanged lineup for World Cup final

JOHANNESBURG — Spain will start with an unchanged lineup for the World Cup final against the Netherlands on Sunday at Soccer City.

Striker Fernando Torres was again on the bench, with Pedro Rodriguez instead starting the match.

The Dutch made two changes, bringing back Nigel de Jong in for Demy de Zeeuw and starting with Gregory van der Wiel instead of Khalid Boulahrouz. Playmaker Wesley Sneijder was again in the midfield behind forwards Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie.

Spain will again rely on the midfield passing of Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, with striker David Villa playing up front.

The Spanish, who are trying to become the third team to hold the world and European titles at the same time, have Iker Casillas in goal, with Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and Joan Capdevila in defense.

Spain has won all three of its knockout round matches 1-0, and Villa scored in two of them. Puyol, one of seven Barcelona players in the starting 11, scored the lone goal in the semifinals against Germany.

Torres has yet to score at this year’s World Cup.

Villa and Sneijder both have a chance to win the Golden Boot award. Each has five goals so far at the tournament.

The Dutch, who have scored five more goals than Spain in South Africa, will again have Maarten Stekelenburg in goal, while Mark van Bommel and De Jong will anchor the four-man defense.

Lineups:

Netherlands: Maarten Stekelenburg, Gregory van der Wiel, John Heitinga, Joris Mathijsen, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Mark van Bommel, Nigel de Jong, Dirk Kuyt, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie.

Spain: Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Joan Capdevila, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Pedro Rodriguez, David Villa.