Spain head coach Vicente del Bosque has offered a typically dry assessment of the furore surrounding his selection of Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa in a bid to diffuse tensions over the matter.
Despite representing Brazil in two friendly internationals, Costa has pledged allegiance to the country that he now calls home, and is set to be rewarded with a World Cup berth under del Bosque. Speaking ahead of Spain’s friendly against Italy on Wednesday evening, the coach told reporters: “Italy play Pablo Osvaldo, right?”
“Was he born in Italy? The argument has passed. Costa is eligible to play for us , legally and technically.”
“He’s playing well with Atletico Madrid, is a striker who can compete with all the other strikers at our disposal and also has different characteristics from the others.”
Osvalso, the Italy attacker, was born in Argentina but has gone on to represent the Europeans, hence del Bosque’s comparisons.
