Diego Costa’s poor form is a matter of confidence, according to Spain manager Vicente del Bosque.
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He went on to add, “I started playing at Blackburn at a young age so as I got moved on to Manchester United the more games you play the more understanding and awareness you have of the situation you are in”.
But England captain Rooney, who will not start against Spain in Alicante tomorrow night, reckons Costa should carry on being a bad boy because that is what makes him tick.
The Brazilian-born forward has endured a disappointing global career for Spain, with a solitary goal from nine caps, while his domestic performances this season have arguably become more noticeable for on-field confrontations with opponents.
Artiz Aduriz, the Athletic Bilbao striker who has 15 goals in all competitions this season, has not been selected because Del Bosque says he is too old at 34, the same age as Iker Casillas.
Costa has been under scrutiny in Spain amid questions over whether his aggressive style fits in the passing game of Del Bosque’s side. I am going to stick to my own game if I get the chance to play. He is a very combative player but we have combative centre halves’.
During his time in the Premier League, we’ve all discovered that Costa isn’t the best loser in the world.
“There is no “English football” anymore I don’t think”.
That said, for all their teams’ supremacy, at senior and junior levels, the RFEF was not above poaching a player who had been capped for Brazil in a friendly.
“We’ve not had much luck with him but there’s nothing that goes against our style”.
On the likelihood of Spain hogging the ball, Jones said: “We know that they like to keep possession of the ball”.
‘He comes because we think he is useful and that’s what we believe until now.
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“At the end we are seeing how players from a lot of teams are called up, but in the ends that in sides such as Real Madrid, Barca and Atletico Madrid, there are quality players and it is normal for them to be called up”, said the versatile defender.
