Del Bosque: Costa behaviour ‘unedifying’

Ian Watson

Vicente Del Bosque has dropped Diego Costa from Spain’s squad for their final two Euro 2016 qualifying fixtures and condemned the striker’s recent actions.

The Chelsea striker was suspended for three games for his part in the sending of Arsenal defender Gabriel last month and now he has been omitted from Del Bosque’s plans.

Spain face Luxembourg next Friday, before travelling to Ukraine three days later and Costa, who was suspended for the first game anyway, will not travel with the national team.

The Spain boss said: “What he did was unedifying, and that is why he was punished. Of course, I didn’t like what he did.”

Del Bosque claimed the decision to leave out Costa, who has scored just one goal in nine appearances for Spain, was taken after he was booked in Macedonia last month and so subsequently banned for the forthcoming double header.

“He can’t play the first game through suspension and we’ve decided not to bring him. He hasn’t played badly and it’s not on merit,” added Del Bosque.

Costa has been replaced in the 23-man squad by Juventus striker Alvaro Morata.