This might be one of the greatest subplots developing for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa, who is in the midst of the best season of his career where he has blossomed into a world class finisher, has changed allegiances from Brazil and joined Spainâs national team La Roja. There is nothing illegal about it, he was recently awarded dual citizenship and hasnât always been a favored man with any of Brazilâs teams. Vicente del Bosque, Spainâs coach, smelled the blood in the water and began wooing for Costaâs allegiance. It worked, and just today Costa not only played, but started over the well established Ălvaro Negredo in their international friendly against Italy.
Does this put Spain over the top? Spain is and has been the best team in the world for years. Theyâve won back to back Euro championships and took home the World Cup trophy in South Africa four years ago, but with injuries slowing down David Villa and Fernando Torresâ less than stellar play over most of his career, there isnât much more than Negredo (who has been playing pretty dang well) and Pedro as consistent attacking forward options for La Roja. This team doesnât really need help, but if it had a âweaknessâ it would be at the forward position which Costa can fill brilliantly.
Spain was going to be good no matter where Diego Costa played, but his addition could be the ammunition they need to stay on top of the world and his absence leaves a gaping hole on Brazilâs star studded team which has been subject to inconsistent play at the forward position.
Adding fuel to the fire here is the obvious fact that this World Cup falls in Costaâs home nation of Brazil. If he indeed continues playing for Spain and they finish better than Brazil, it wouldnât be surprising at all to see Brazil go through with their threat to revoke his citizenship.
Costa not welcome in Spain? Youâd think that adding a superstar forward would be nothing but good news for any nation, right? Unfortunately for Diego Costa, this isnât necessarily the case. Spain is an incredibly proud nation and some fans have been extremely outspoken, even chanting vocally against Costa because he isnât exactly Spanish. They have won for years without diluting their Spanish blood, so they donât need help - this is the theory that some fans angrily and publicly carry around in Spain.
Costa is a special player who still has many good years ahead of him, Spanish fans should appreciate the fact that he is willing to keep his talents in the country. No one in his situation deserves to get heckled because of his choice to play for a different nation - one in which he is a naturalized citizen.
While all accounts show that most players in the national team have welcomed in Costa with open arms, itâs highly unlikely that this has much of a negative impact on their team chemistry but there will definitely be some hiccups in the months leading up to the World Cup. Will Spaniards be more accepting of their new star after he puts in a few goals for the national team, or will this continue to cause a rift in the country? Sound off in the comments section and let us know what you think.
How this plays out is anyoneâs guess, but his addition to one of the best national teams to ever be assembled is going to be nothing short of thrilling to watch this June and July in Brazil. If Spain meets up with the Seleção at any point in in the Cup, the heckling the Costa experiences now in Spain will undoubtedly explode to new levels.