KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany (AP) - Spain coach Luis Aragones told his fringe players to make his life difficult, and some of them lived up to the challenge.
A Spanish squad full of substitutes beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 Friday to clinch first place in Group H. The backups tried to win a spot in the starting lineup for the round of 16 match in Hanover on Tuesday.
Center back Juanito Gutierrez headed in Spain's goal on a long free kick from Jose Antonio Reyes in the 36th minute.
The result extended Spain's unbeaten streak under Aragones to 25 matches. Saudi Arabia exited its fourth consecutive World Cup with only one point from its opening draw with Tunisia.
With Spain already through to the knockout stage after wins against Ukraine and Tunisia, Aragones rested his regulars against the Saudis. Seven of Friday's starters had never played a World Cup match.
Several Spanish players, including striker Joaquin Sanchez, Reyes and Juanito may have increased their chances of winning spots with their performances at the Fritz-Walter Stadium, with Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia in the crowd.
"Unfortunately I think we played below our level," Aragones said. "There was a bit of everything. In the second half, more negative than positive."
Spain scored when Reyes sent a curling free kick from the left flank and Juanito, outsmarting the defense, connected with a perfectly timed header that stunned goalkeeper Mabrouk Zayed. It was Juanito's second goal for Spain.
Zayed stopped the Spaniards from taking a bigger lead just before halftime, saving a barrage of shots from Reyes, David Albelda and Joaquin.
Spain's all-time leading scorer Raul Gonzalez had a fairly uneventful first half and was replaced by David Villa after the break.
The "Red Fury" nearly got a second goal when Villa, inside the penalty box, dropped the ball back to fullback Antonio Lopez, who angled a dangerous shot to the far post. Zayed tipped the ball to corner.
But Saudi Arabia came out with more ambition in the second half and broke Spain's dominance.
"In the first half we were good, we created many chances," Aragones said. "The Saudis played an excellent match in the second half, much better than we were."
Spanish keeper Santiago Canizares, filling in for Iker Casillas, was tested for the first time 12 minutes into the second half when he saved Hussein Abdul-Ghani's outside shot.
Saad al-Harthi had Saudi Arabia's best chance to equalize when he was set up in the penalty box in the 89th by Mohammed Noor, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.
"Spain played with the reserve side, but they're all experienced players," Saudi Arabia coach Marcos Paqueta said. "We made one mistake and they scored, and from then on we had to chase the game."
Spain's top scorer in the tournament, Fernando Torres, came on with 25 minutes to go, and managed a few dangerous runs, but couldn't get the ball past Zayed.
The win capped a strong group stage for the Spaniards, and buoyed the World Cup hopes of a nation that historically has not produced in international soccer. Despite being a powerhouse at the club level, Spain has not gotten past a World Cup quarterfinal since finishing fourth in 1950.
Spain routed Ukraine 4-0 in the opener, but appeared headed for an unpleasant surprise after conceding an early goal against Tunisia. Two second-half goals by Torres and one by Raul put the Spaniards back on track.
The Saudis, coached by Brazilian Marcos Paqueta, looked strong in their 2-2 opener against Tunisia, but collapsed in a 4-0 loss to Ukraine.
"The team has benefited from this experience, and from being here, but they need more," Paqueta said.
Soccer was banned until 1951 in the oil-rich desert nation, which has failed to advance from the group stage since being knocked out in the second round in its first World Cup in 1994.
