The Latest: Iniesta out for Spain’s World Cup game v Russia

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MOSCOW (AP) — The Latest on Sunday at the World Cup (all times local):

4 p.m.

Spain is starting without Andres Iniesta against Russia in the last 16 of the World Cup.

Coach Fernando Hierro makes three changes from the lineup which drew 2-2 with Morocco in the last game of the group stage, bringing in Nacho Fernandez, Jorge “Koke” Resurreccion and Marco Asensio.

Up front in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Diego Costa is likely to try to open up space in Russia’s five-man defensive line for David Silva and Isco to threaten the goal.

Spain lineup: David de Gea, Nacho, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Koke, Marco Asensio, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Diego Costa, David Silva, Isco.

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3:50 p.m.

Russia is set to switch to five at the back for its World Cup round of 16 game against Spain on Sunday.

Fyodor Kudryashov will join Sergei Ignashevich and Ilya Kutepov in the center of defense, with Mario Fernandes and Yuri Zhirkov on the flanks. Russia used a four-man back line in its three group games. In midfield Daler Kuzyaev, who came on as a substitute in all three group games, gets his first World Cup start in place of the dropped Yuri Gazinsky.

The winger Denis Cheryshev, who was raised in Spain, is on the bench despite having scored three goals so far, while backup right-back Igor Smolnikov is suspended after being red carded in Monday’s 3-0 group-stage loss to Uruguay.

Russia is playing its first World Cup knockout game in the post-Soviet era. The winner will play either Croatia or Denmark in Sochi on July 7.

Russia lineup: Igor Akinfeev, Mario Fernandes, Ilya Kutepov, Sergei Ignashevich, Fyodor Kudryashov, Yuri Zhirkov, Roman Zobnin, Alexander Golovin, Daler Kuzyaev, Alexander Samedov, Artyom Dzyuba.

Spain’s Andres Iniesta lies on the ground during the group B match between Spain and Morocco at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad, Russia, Monday, June 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/07/web1_120858411-12e244b342374b69bb98b90d12c1914d.jpgSpain’s Andres Iniesta lies on the ground during the group B match between Spain and Morocco at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad, Russia, Monday, June 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Russia’s Fyodor Kudryashov, left, and Uruguay’s Nahitan Nandez challenge for the ball during the group A match between Uruguay and Russia at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Samara Arena in Samara, Russia, Monday, June 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/07/web1_120858411-07f663eb20914a2cbfa458a03eb8ae6c.jpgRussia’s Fyodor Kudryashov, left, and Uruguay’s Nahitan Nandez challenge for the ball during the group A match between Uruguay and Russia at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Samara Arena in Samara, Russia, Monday, June 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

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