Football

Women's World Cup final: Megan Rapinoe returns; Lieke Martens fit to play

Megan Rapinoe was kept out of USA's semifinal clash against England owing to a hamstring injury, while Lieke Martens was forced off in Netherlands' semifinal victory over Sweden because of a foot problem.

Team Sportstar Team Sportstar
07 July, 2019 19:42 IST

Megan Rapinoe returns from a hamstring injury to play in the final.   -  Getty Images

Team Sportstar Team Sportstar
07 July, 2019 19:42 IST

USA attacker Megan Rapinoe returned to the starting XI as she teamed up with Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath in the front-three against Netherlands in the Women's World Cup final on Sunday.

Rapinoe had missed the semifinal clash against England with halftime reports claiming the striker was kept out because of a hamstring injury.

Netherlands' star player Lieke Martens could not play 90 minutes in the Dutch's last-four match against Sweden as the FC Barcelona attacker was forced off at half time because of a foot problem she suffered when celebrating her last-16 winner against Japan.

FOLLOW LIVE | Women's World Cup final: USA vs Netherlands

Martens will feature in the Oranje's attack alongside the prolific Vivianne Miedema and Lineth Beerensteyn.

Both teams opted for a 4-3-3 formation.

USA XI:  Naeher; Dunn, Sauerbrunn, Dahlkemper, O’Hara; Lavelle, Ertz, Mewis; Rapinoe, Morgan, Heath.

Netherlands XI: van Veenendaal; Bloodworth, van der Gragt, Dekker, van Lunteren ; Spitse, van de Donk, Groenen; Martens, Miedema, Beerensteyn.

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