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ATLETICO

Brazil’s Diego Costa set for Spain call up

Brazilian-born Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa looks set to be included in Vicente del Bosque's Spain squad for the champions decisive World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Georgia next month.

Brazil's Diego Costa set for Spain call up
Photo: Dani Pozo/AFP

Costa is eligible to play for La Roja on residency grounds having lived in Spain since 2007.

The 24-year-old made two appearances for his native country earlier this year in friendlies against Italy and Russia, but he can still represent Spain as he hasn't played in a competitive match at senior level.

Costa has started the season in fantastic form and his eighth league goal in just seven matches was enough to hand Atletico a memorable 1-0 win over arch city rivals Real Madrid on Saturday.

That goal brought him level with Lionel Messi as La Liga's top goalscorer this season and his return in front of goal has meant Diego Simeone's men have barely missed the departed Radamel Falcao.

"No one has been in contact with me, but how can I say no to a national coach?," Costa told Spanish TV station La Sexta.

"I hear the rumours, but it doesn't keep me awake at night. I am calm, if one day they propose something to me then I will think about it.

"Obviously it is an honour that Spain are watching me, but I am not going to go crazy about it."

Costa's time in Spain hasn't always gone so swimmingly though. After signing for Atletico in 2007 he was farmed out on loan to Celta Vigo, Albacete and Rayo Vallecano.

Indeed he wasn't even a regular in the Atletico side until midway through last season, but he went onto score 20 goals in all competitions, including a strike during the Copa del Rey final as Atletico beat Real Madrid for the first time in 14 years.

However, his on field demeanour has often been condemned and he is currently serving a four-match ban in European competition after being sent-off for headbutting an opponent in Atletico's Europa League match against Czech side Viktoria Plzen last season.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari criticised the potential move last week, claiming the rules regarding eligibility were outdated.

"It is a backward rule. I remember the fifties when (Alfredo) Di Stefano played with Argentina and Spain. The same thing happened with (Jose) Alfatini and (Ferenc) Puskas," he said.

"The day will come when a country will contract 20 players and build a national team."

However, Scolari's reaction has been criticised in Spain with commentators pointing out that the Portugal side he managed in two European Championships and a World Cup also had two naturalised Brazilians in former Barcelona midfielder Deco and Real Madrid defender Pepe.

Centre-forward is one of the few positions in which Del Bosque has struggled to find consistency of selection since the dip in form and injuries suffered by Fernando Torres and David Villa since the 2010 World Cup.

Indeed, the former Real Madrid coach has more recently opted to play midfielder Cesc Fabregas in a more advanced position.

However, Costa still believes it would be difficult for him to find an automatic place in the starting line-up.

"I am privileged that one day I might be able to choose between two great national teams.

"Scolari has trusted in the squad he has and Spain have their 11 starters. It is more difficult for a player that has never been called up and when you have players of the calibre of (Alvaro) Negredo, (Roberto) Soldado or Villa it is even more so."

Spain face Belarus in Palma on October 11 and Georgia four days later in Albacete knowing that four points will be enough to mathematically guarantee their place at next year's finals.

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FOOTBALL

Thousands of Atletico fans flock to Madrid’s Neptune fountain to cheer league victory

Thousands of Atletico Madrid fans defied the authorities by taking to the streets of the Spanish capital to celebrate on Saturday night after victory over Real Valladolid secured their team an 11th league title.

Thousands of Atletico fans flock to Madrid's Neptune fountain to cheer league victory
Spanish policemen stand guard around Atletico Madrid´s supporters outside the Jose Zorilla stadium in Valladolid. Photo: Cesar Manso/AFP

As soon as the full-time whistle blew in Valladolid to confirm a 2-1 win, Atleti supporters flocked to the Neptune fountain in the centre of Madrid, in
line with tradition but defying Covid-19 rules regarding the wearing of masks and social distancing.

“I was confident Atletico would win. It was like a final and being against Valladolid, I knew we were going to win,” Federico Gonzalez, 46, and among the crowds, told AFP.

A large police presence surrounded the fountain, with several vans also present to prevent people from approaching the fountain, which had been lit up in Atletico’s red and white colours.

Fans waved flags and scarves while others set off flares as darkness fell, the celebrations going on into the night after Atletico’s second La Liga title in seven years.

“It is a joy. From the beginning of the game I was overcome with nerves because Atleti plays each game in its own way and you just never know”, said Carlota Maestro, 20, who came to the city centre with three friends.

Amid shouts of “Atleti, Atleti” and “Campeones”, the rojiblancos fans danced, jumped and hugged each other. Cars and motorbikes drove by honking
their horns, some with red and white flags poking out of the windows.

The Covid-19 pandemic has meant Atletico’s fans have not been allowed to attend matches this season and their celebrations defied the recommendations of the authorities.

Fans ignored rules on social distancing and many were not wearing masks. “Please, I ask the Atletico fans not to go to Neptune,” wrote the mayor of
Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, himself an Atletico supporter, on Twitter. “I am the first to understand the desire to celebrate but this is not the time.”

“It is a strange celebration, because we have not been able to do it like normal, on the field, surrounded by other fans,” said Pablo Diaz, a 22-year-old fan. “We celebrate it but with a little fear, being careful, and wearing a mask.”

Hundreds of other fans had accompanied the team to Valladolid, where they watched the game on their phones in the car park outside the stadium.

After the match, Atletico’s ran out of the stadium to celebrate with the supporters they had not seen all season.

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