Key events<\/p>\n
Team news<\/p>\n
A few changes for each team. For Spain, Marcos Llorente replaces Pedro Porro in defence, while Mikel Merino and Alex Baena are in Dani \u2060Olmo and Nico Williams. Marcelo Bielsa has Fernando Muslera in goal and Darwin Nunez leading the line.<\/p>\n
Uruguay: Fernando Muslera; Sebastian \u200bCaceres, Guillermo \u200bVarela, Mathias Olivera; Manuel \u200bUgarte, Rodrigo Bentancur, Federico Valverde, Agustin Canobbio, \u200bMaxi Araujo, \u200cJuan Manuel \u200bSanabria; Darwin \u200bNunez. Subs: Rochet, Mele, Gimenez, Ronald Araujo, de la Cruz, de Arrascaeta, Pellistri, Martinez, Vina, Rodriguez, Aguirre, Vinas, Piquerez, Bueno, Zalazar.<\/p>\n
Spain: Unai Simon; Marcos Llorente, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella; Mikel Merino, Alex Baena, Rodri, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal. Subs: Raya, Joan Garcia, Pubill, Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Torres, Fabian, Gavi, Olmo, Pino, Porro, Williams, Zubimendi, Munoz, Iglesias.<\/p>\n
Referee: Ismail Elfath (USA)<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.04 EDT<\/p>\n Fun fact, courtesy of Sid Lowe<\/a>: Uruguay have not won a World Cup<\/a> game without Luis Su\u00e1rez since 1990 (just to clarify, Su\u00e1rez did not play in the 1990 World Cup as he was three years old and he\u2019s not that good). Su\u00e1rez is not in the squad for this World Cup.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Are Spain the best team at the World Cup? No! Because the Fifa rankings say they\u2019re No 3 in the world, and those rankings are in no way flawed. They are, however, probably among the top two contenders, aside from France. And the French just gave everyone\u2019s favourite dark horse, Norway, one hell of a beating. How much we can read into that is debatable \u2013 Norway rested 10 players \u2013 but the French still won 4-1 and looked <\/a>very<\/a> crisp<\/a>. So Spain may want to put on a dominant display tonight to gather some momentum as they head to the knockouts. Or they could just do the PSG method and mess around until it really matters and then become unbeatable.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.48 EDT<\/p>\n Good news for Uruguay! Even if they do get thrashed by Spain tonight and end up going out, they\u2019re guaranteed a place in the 2030 World Cup<\/a> due to the fact that they are co-hosts. And by co-hosts, I mean they\u2019re hosting exactly one match. No one is saying that it\u2019s easier than ever to qualify for the World Cup but \u2026<\/p>\n Spain are also guaranteed a place at the 2030 World Cup due to the fact that they\u2019re another of the 38 tournament co-hosts. What happens if Spain or Uruguay<\/a> win this World Cup? Do they qualify for 2030 automatically twice \u2013 as winners and hosts? Interestingly, under an obscure Fifa bylaw, they do. They get to field two teams, but each player is only allowed to play with one leg and has to wear a hat made of bees to make things fairer. Should be interesting!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.28 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n This World Cup<\/a> has suffered a little from its expanded format – there have been few heavyweight clashes but I guess two former champions battling for first place in the group counts. Here\u2019s what\u2019s at stake tonight in Guadalajara (and the rest of Group G):<\/p>\n Spain will guarantee qualification with a draw or win against Uruguay<\/a>.<\/p>\n Uruguay need to beat Spain<\/a> to absolutely guarantee qualification. A draw could be enough but it would be close.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.10 EDT<\/p>\n Tom will be here shortly. In the meantime, here\u2019s your initial briefing on this matchup, courtesy of Graham Ruthven\u2019s daily watch guide<\/a>:<\/p>\n What to watch for<\/p>\n Uruguay haven\u2019t played much like a Bielsa team at this World Cup<\/a> so far. The 1930 and 1950 winners have struggled for creativity and have been one-dimensional in the final third in draws against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia. To make the knockout rounds, Uruguay must show more variety.<\/p>\n Spain bounced back from their underwhelming opener against Cape Verde to put four past Saudi Arabia. Lamine Yamal\u2019s return gave the European champions a much-needed direct threat, which opened up space and restored faith that Spain<\/a> will be as strong as was predicted before the start of the tournament.<\/p>\n Player to watch: Lamine Yamal, Spain \u2013 The 18-year-old is Spain\u2019s biggest difference-maker and the player who makes everything click for them in the final third. Without him, they simply don\u2019t have the necessary invention.<\/p>\n