World Cup 2014: Chelsea-bound Diego Costa can be Spain's secret weapon

 
Inexperienced: Diego Costa has only made one appearance for Spain
GETTY
Mike Perez30 May 2014

You know you must be doing something right if you are at the centre of a tug-of-war between five-time World Cup winners Brazil and reigning European and world champions Spain.

That is the situation Diego Costa found himself in last year as two of the big favourites for this summer's global showpiece went head-to-head for his services.

Brazil were the first to make their move for their home-grown striker, giving him two friendly appearances at the start of 2013.

However, it was Costa's adopted nation of Spain - where he had been playing his club football for six years - that ultimately won his allegiance and he made his debut for La Furia Roja in February's friendly against Italy.

Physical, direct, polemical and abrasive, Costa is not your identikit modern Spain player, but the Atletico Madrid forward, who is working hard to shake off a nagging hamstring problem ahead of the tournament, could be just the X-factor the holders may need to unlock opposition defences who have become wise to their 'tiki-taka' passing style.

That is an opinion shared by Atletico coach Diego Simeone, who said: "He's a big boost for the Spanish team, because he's different to the other strikers. He's going to cause a surprise with Spain."

A successful World Cup would cap a stunning year for the 25-year-old that has seen him spearhead Atletico's successful bid for the Primera Division title and reach the Champions League final, scoring more than 35 goals in all competitions.

While his injury problem restricted Costa to just nine minutes of the Champions League final, which Atletico harshly lost 4-1 after extra time against Real Madrid, it has nevertheless undoubtedly been the best season of what had been a relatively slow-burning career.

His recent upturn has catapulted Costa into the very top bracket of strikers, yet while his star is high now it has not been an easy journey to get to this point for the powerful Lagarto-born hitman.

And it could have turned out all very differently, but for an incident that happened three years ago.

Following several spells away from Atletico of mixed success, he was deemed surplus to requirements at the Rojiblancos, who he first joined from Portuguese side Braga in 2007.

Having only shown glimpses of his potential at the Vicente Calderon, the talented but temperamental Costa looked set to be sold to a Turkish club in the summer of 2011 when, just prior to a Europa League qualifier against Stromsgodset, he tore the ligaments in his right knee during training.

Costa recalled in an interview this year: "My agent called me to go to Turkey because the club had accepted an offer and it depended on me.

"I went to training and I suffered the injury. It was very serious.

"I believe in God. We have a destiny, good and bad, and everyone plays it out.

"I had to start again from zero."

Costa had been dealt a cruel blow, and one that forced him to use all of his determination, perseverance and fighting spirit to recover from.

It was a battle that brought out the best in him.

After undergoing surgery and spending six months on the sidelines, Costa joined Atletico's local rivals Rayo Vallecano on loan, and it was there that the striker really showed what he could do.

He scored four times in his first three games and ended up with 10 goals in 16 appearances.

Impressive though that was, it still did not earn him a place in Atletico's plans as there were three overseas players ahead of him in Simeone's pecking order.

Undeterred, he got his head down again in a bid to earn his chance.

"The coach told me he didn't count on me, I understood and I trained," Costa said.

"My life has always been to fight and battle. It's something I have inside. I fight until I achieve it."

And Costa is now reaping the benefits of that never-say-die attitude.

Having won Simeone over, he established himself as one of Europe's rising talents last season with 20 goals, including one in the Copa del Rey final win over Real Madrid.

That led to interest from Barclays Premier League clubs, but Costa remained at Atletico and this term has helped the Rojiblancos enjoy one of the best campaigns in their history.

With international recognition and a big-money move in the pipeline, things could hardly be going better for Costa but Simeone believes there is still more to come - provided he remembers where he has come from.

"He decides his limit. He must never forget what it's taken to become this player," the Argentinian said.

"If he doesn't forget all this effort that he's made to achieve everything he's achieved, he's going to continue growing. Because we're all convinced that he is a player who still has much room to grow.

"He has things to improve. He's rebellious, and I like that. Hopefully he won't stop developing. It all depends on what he wants to do."

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