Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa who scored twice in Spain’s 3-3 draw with Portugal is relishing the chance to face the country of his birth Brazil in the finals of the 2018 World Cup. Costa who on March 5, 2013, was called up to the Brazil national team by head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari for friendlies with Italy in Geneva and Russia in London, both taking place late in that month made his debut in the first match on 21 March, replacing Fred midway through the second half and four days later at Stamford Bridge, he replaced former footballer of the year Kaka for the last 12 minutes of a 1–1 draw with Russia. Six months later, the Royal Spanish Football Federation made an official request to FIFA for permission to call up Costa for the Spain national team and having been granted Spanish nationality in July with FIFA regulations permitting players with more than one nationality to represent a second country if, like Costa, he had only represented his first country in friendly matches, Costa declared that he wished to play international football for Spain, sending a letter to the Brazilian Football Confederation on October 29, 2013.
“I like to see them (Brazil) play because I have lots of friends in the team like Willian, Filipe (Luis), Miranda, people that I love and I don’t want things to go badly for them,” Costa told reporters. Also in my home in Lagarto in Brazil, all my family and friends are pulling for Brazil. A Brazil vs. Spain final would be beautiful, I would sign for that to happen right now, and I wish I could play a great game and win it.” Costa added that he would not expect a backlash from Brazilians over his decision to play for Spain if his dream final were to happen. “People in Brazil live football with a lot of passion,” he said. “But that issue [of switching allegiances] has already passed and people are already used to it. Besides, Brazilians are good people.”
“It was important to start strong and score goals,” he said after the game against Portugal. “A striker lives off goals, and I’m delighted with the two that I scored. But there is still a long way to go and I have to continue improving.” Costa stressed that he would not take his place in the starting XI as guaranteed, with Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas and Valencia striker Rodrigo also in contention. it’s good that there is competition between us as long as it’s a healthy rivalry,” he said. “We are all a family here and I get on with them very well. If someone else has to play, I just have to support them and congratulate them because they deserve it. “I’m not going to put on a bad face if I’m not selected. The coach is the one that selects what is best for the group and the national team is above any player.”