Diego Costa Dropped!

Diego Costa has been dropped by disapproving Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque, who admitted yesterday that he did not like the way the Chelsea striker behaved in the recent meeting with Arsenal.

Costa has scored just once in his first nine games for Spain and Del Bosque has been under pressure to leave out the forward he persuaded to swap allegiance from Brazil to Spain before the 2014 World Cup.

The 26-year-old striker is suspended for Spain's first game against Luxembourg next Friday after picking up a booking in Spain's 1-0 win over Macedonia last month but would have been available for the second match against Ukraine.

The Spain manager was asked if the three-game ban dealt Costa by the FA for his conduct against Arsenal two weeks ago influenced his decision. He said: 'No. But of course I did not like what he did. It was not nice.'

Juventus' in-form Spanish forward Alvaro Morata steps in as Costa's replacement. There are three other Chelsea players in the squad, Cesar Azpilicueta, Pedro and Cesc Fabregas. Arsenal's Santi Cazorla, Manchester United pair David de Gea and Juan Mata, and Manchester City's David Silva are also in the 23.

Spain need just a point to make it to next season's European Championship and for Costa to be absent as the group get over the line in terms of qualification is being seen as significant by some Spanish commentators.

'He hasn't played badly; the decision is not down to form,' insisted Del Bosque. He has the option to bring him back in November when he could face club team-mates Gary Cahill when Spain face England in Alicante.