Nothing new here. Diego Costa within a whisker of a red card again. Yet more controversy caused by the firebrand forward.
For good or for bad, Diego Costa always appears to find some way to hog the headlines. Whether that be via one of his barnstorming runs and clinical finishes or by planting a stud or six squarely onto the shin of a centre-back, the firebrand Chelsea striker certainly knows how to get people talking.
And, once more, another act of blatant skulduggery has overshadowed what should have been a thrilling tactical battle between two great European nations embarking upon brave new eras. And perhaps it was. Though we’ll never know.
Now, because of an admittedly innocuous tap on Leonardo Bonucci’s face and a blatantly idiotic shoulder barge on a poor linesman, the post-match chat following the World Cup qualifying draw between Giampiero Ventura’s Italy and Julen Lopetegui’s Spain will centre on one man.
Yes, Bonucci threw himself to the ground as if a sniper had taken refuge atop a Turin tower. Yes, Costa’s fiery character makes him the world-class striker we enjoy and endure in equal measure but, time and time again, he puts himself, and his team, in positions of vulnerability due to his complete lack of control.
As you’d expect, the Twitter jury was quick to declare their verdict.
Now, this one’s in Spanish. But you don’t need to have lived your adult life in Andalusia to understand the context.
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