MADRID: Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has included Diego Costa in his final 23-man squad for the World Cup finals despite the Brazil-born forward’s recent injury woes.
The Atletico Madrid striker has battled an ongoing hamstring problem that limited him to just nine minutes in last Saturday’s Champions League final defeat to city rivals Real Madrid, a week after he was forced off 15 minutes into his side’s La Liga title decider with Barcelona but Del Bosque is prepared to gamble that Costa will be fit to lead the defending champion’s attack.
Del Bosque announced his selection for the tournament in Brazil on the Spanish soccer federation’s website on Saturday.
Costa, who is a Brazilian-born Spanish national, is expected to start ahead of experienced strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa, who were also in the team.
Del Bosque also left strikers Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo and Fernando Llorente, midfielder Ander Iturraspe, and defenders Alberto Moreno and Dani Carvajal out of his squad, the six having been named in his initial 30-man list while Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata was included despite an irregular season.
Spain face Chile, the Netherlands and Australia in World Cup Group ‘B’. Their first match pits them on June 13 against the Netherlands — their opponents in their 2010 World Cup final triumph.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Napoli), David De Gea (Manchester United); Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Raul Albiol (Napoli), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Jordi Alba (Barcelona); Midfielders: Xavi (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich); Forwards: David Silva (Manchester City), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), Fernando Torres (Chelsea), Pedro (Barcelona), Juan Mata (Manchester United), David Villa (Atletico Madrid).
Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2014
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