Spain is 90 minutes away from a second straight major international trophy, and Luis de la Fuente’s lineup for the World Cup final against Argentina is almost set in stone. Almost.
The one decision that keeps coming up in conversations among fans and analysts alike is in goal. Unai Simon has started every match of this tournament and has allowed exactly one goal. He also broke the all-time World Cup shutout streak record earlier in the knockout rounds. That sounds like an obvious starter. But here is the thing: Simon has been playing with fire.
He has come off his line recklessly multiple times in the last few games. Cabo Verde missed. Portugal missed. Belgium missed. France missed. None of them punished him, but Argentina has Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez and a group of finishers who do not miss those chances. If Simon makes that same gamble in the final and it backfires, people are going to ask why David Raya did not get more run. Raya just won a Premier League title and took Arsenal to the Champions League final and the Carabao Cup final. He is the safer choice. But de la Fuente has stuck with Simon all tournament and is not likely to switch now.
The back line is basically locked
Marc Cucurella might be the best left back in the world right now, and Aymeric Laporte turns into a different player when he puts on that red shirt. Pau Cubarsi is 19 and has already locked himself into the Spain defense for the next decade and a half. The only real question is at right back, where Pedro Porro has started five matches and Marcos Llorente has started two. Porro is younger and better going forward. He gets the nod.
The midfield has a clear pecking order
Rodri is Rodri. When he is healthy, Spain controls games. Dani Olmo has started five of seven matches and is essential to how this team builds through the middle. The only real question was whether Pedri or Fabian Ruiz would get the third spot, and Ruiz won that battle early in the tournament. Pedri is world class, honestly. But de la Fuente tried him in a more advanced role and it did not work. Ruiz is not the better player, but he fits better. That matters more in a knockout final.
The wingers are set and the striker has answered the critics
Lamine Yamal came into the World Cup with injury questions but has looked sharper every match. Alex Baena has started six of seven games and has done a solid job filling in for Nico Williams, who would probably be starting if he were fully healthy. Williams and Ferran Torres will come off the bench at some point.
Up top, Mikel Oyarzabal has five goals this tournament and leads Spain in scoring. Before the World Cup, the big narrative was that Spain did not have a real striker. Oyarzabal has answered that question with goals. Mikel Merino has won two matches with late winners off the bench, but de la Fuente keeps starting Oyarzabal and it keeps working. Expect the same approach in the final. Start Oyarzabal, bring on Merino to close it out or win it late if needed.
One bad Simon decision away from this entire lineup being second-guessed forever.
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