Argentina ring three changes, Spain unchanged for World Cup final

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has made three changes to the side that rallied from behind to defeat England in the semi-finals, while Spain coach Luis de la Fuente stuck with the same team for Sunday's World Cup final.

Rodrigo De Paul returned to the midfield, Gonzalo Montiel comes in at right back and Nicolas Gonzalez will start on the wing for Argentina.

Lionel Messi is captaining Argentina in their title defence, with Giuliano Simeone, Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes dropped to the bench.

Lamine Yamal will start in the front line for Spain after missing training this week after a knock in the semi-final win over France.

Pedro Porro is also in the lineup after hamstring discomfort, while Pedri remains among the substitutes.

The South Americans are striving to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups, while Spain are eyeing a second title after their maiden victory in 2010.

After concerns in recent days that the final could be affected by smoke from wildfires in Canada that has blanketed eastern US states, there were blue skies over New Jersey on Sunday morning.

The showpiece at the MetLife Stadium, the culmination of the 104-match tournament, is likely to be the final World Cup appearance for Messi, widely considered the greatest player of all time.

US President Donald Trump will be among the 80,000-strong crowd in East Rutherford - the first game he has attended in the tournament.

Spain starting XI

Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri (captain), Fabian Ruiz, Dani Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Alex Baena, Mikel Oyarzabal.

Argentina starting XI

Emiliano Martinez; Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Nicolas Gonzalez; Lionel Messi (captain), Julian Alvarez.