Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been recalled by Spain for the upcoming friendlies against England and Belgium.
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The Chelsea man was left out of La Roja’s last squad due to him being suspended for the first of their two final Euro 2016 qualifiers, but Del Bosque has made a decision to bring him straight back into the fold for the November internationals.
Seven of the the 24-man squad play in the Premier League. Costa’s teammates Cesc Fabregas, Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta also feature, alongside Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla and Manchester United duo David de Gea and Juan Mata.
Defenders: Juanfran, M. Gaspar, Ramos, Pique, Bartra, Alba, Azpilicueta, San Jose.
Brazil-born Costa has scored just once in nine caps, against Luxembourg, and has barely played for his adopted country over the last 12 months amid a series of injury problems and apparent misunderstandings between the national team and his club.
“He is playing well and is starting every game”, said del Bosque. He had a small rib issue that gave us cause for doubt, but we think he can be with us.
He added of the friendlies against England and Belgium: “They are two top-level teams”.
Belgium, the newly installed top team in the world, per Federation Internationale de Football Association, will offer a significant challenge for Del Bosque’s team having lost just one of their last 13 matches. They’re candidate to win Euros.
“I expect that we all know these are very important games, to be together these days and work on things”.
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However, he was also reprimanded by del Bosque for his behaviour in a bad-tempered London derby against Arsenal in September for which he received a charge of violent conduct from the English Football Association.
