Spain vs Costa Rica: 5 talking points

#5 Yet more injury worry for Real Madrid as Isco limps off

Isco blow for Real Madrid

After trailing Barcelona by eight points and getting humiliated by a spirited Tottenham Hotspur only very recently, this was the last thing that Real Madrid needed. In what has been a really difficult start to the season, Isco was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise despondent Blancos outfit. But after picking up a knock in the friendly, he faces substantial time out on the sidelines that will only cause more concern for manager Zinedine Zidane.

Midway through the exchanges, Kendall Watson lept into a horrendous tackle on Isco that left the 25-year old in agonising pain, so much so that he himself signalled for a substitution indicating a serious blow.

The bigger blow, however, will be dealt by Real Madrid who will have to make do without their midfield maestro for weeks, or even months. In several tense moments that they've been through this season, the former Malaga man has successfully lifted his side out of the lurch single-handedly. Severely hampered by high-profile injuries coupled with the terrible run of form of both Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, Isco was one of their last hopes to get their season on track before its too late.

But watching the same hope squished with his injury, the two-time defending European champions will soon have to find some inspiration elsewhere.