Del Bosque drops Costa from Spain squad, blasts his antics against Arsenal

Diego Costa is dropped from the Spain squad for their next two games

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque named his squad for the Euro 2016 qualifiers against Luxembourg and Ukraine and one notable absentee was Chelsea striker Diego Costa. The Spanish striker has netted only once in his first nine appearances for his national team and the Spanish manager has dropped him in favour of Celta Vigo striker Nolito who impressed in his side’s 4-1 win over Barcelona.

Costa was ineligible to play the match against Luxembourg due to suspension but would have been available for the game against Ukraine. When quizzed about dropping the ex-Rojiblancos hitman, Del Bosque quoted, "He (Costa) can't play in the first game through suspension, so that's why we've decided not to call him up."

When asked whether Costa was dropped because of his form, the ex-Real Madrid manager replied, “He's not been playing badly so it isn't about his form. Our decision had nothing to do with his Chelsea ban. That said, we mustn't condone what he did; I didn't like it, of course."

Costa was guilty of obstructing play and instigating the Arsenal backline. The London derby was evenly poised up until the minute Arsenal centre-back Gabriel was sent off for sticking his studs into the Chelsea striker, leaving the Gunners to play with 10 men for almost the entire second half. Costa had previously struck Laurent Koscielny on the face and brought him to the ground.

Gabriel and Costa were both shown a yellow by referee Mike Dean in the resulting spat which ensued. Goals from Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma and an own goal by Calum Chambers ensured Chelsea of all three points against a 9-man Arsenal, who lost Cazorla in the 79th minute.

Costa was later slapped with a charge of violent conduct and was handed a three-match domestic ban. While Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was showering praises on Costa stating that the forward played how he had to play, his opposing counterpart Arsene Wenger blasted the forward’s action stating, “He can do what he wants and everyone else gets sent off. He always gets away with it.” Well, not quite always!

La Furia Roja need just one point to ensure their qualification to next year’s Euro Championships which is to be held in France.

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Porto), David De Gea (Manchester United), Sergio Rico (Sevilla)

Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Marc Bartra (Barcelona), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Inigo Martinez (Real Sociedad)

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), David Silva (Manchester City), Isco (Real Madrid), Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea), Bruno Soriano (Villarreal), Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich), Juan Mata (Manchester United)

Forwards: Pedro (Chelsea), Paco Alcacer (Valencia), Alvaro Morata (Juventus), Nolito (Celta Vigo)