Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat trick, taking his total of international goals to a scarcely believable 84, inevitably dominated the discussion that followed the 3-3 draw between Spain and Portugal. But the evolution in Spain’s style of play, and Diego Costa’s role within it, was also a noteworthy development.
He was the odd one out at the 2014 World Cup, and seemed to operate on an entirely different wavelength to his teammates. Costa was chosen to start the tournament up front but failed to score, looking subdued in his two starts. By the time he reverted to the bench for their final group game, Spain had already been knocked out.
Any concerns that Costa would struggle again in Russia were soon put to bed. A bullish and temperamental figure, many had doubted if he was the right man to lead the line for a Spain side that retains a clear emphasis on neat, technical football. But he proved his worth against Portugal, giving his teammates a physical focal point to build their attacks around.
While there was understandably much gushing over Spain's short passing and rapid interchanges in midfield, Costa gave them something different up front. His two goals in Friday's thrilling draw showed the Atletico Madrid striker at his very best. Direct, powerful and pugnacious, he allowed Spain to mix things up and play long when the situation demanded.
Costa's first came from a long diagonal that he did brilliantly to wrestle under control before working the angle to fire home. Pepe might have disputed the means by which he won their initial challenge but the Portuguese centre back is hardly in a position to dispute the use of sly tactics or excessive force. Once in the area, his footwork and finish showed an often overlooked subtlety. More than just a crude battering ram, Costa can play too.
His second was the result of a carefully crafted free kick, with the ball headed back across the six-yard box by Sergio Busquets for Costa to pounce. It was the sort of variety that had previously been missing from Spain’s play and showed that direct football, providing it’s focused, can also have its merits. A technically gifted shouldn’t be afraid to properly utilise set pieces.
To a certain extent, it’s undoubtedly true that crosses are an inefficient route to goal. So many are overhit, fail to beat the first man or are comfortably cleared. There are so many variables at play which stack the odds in favour of the defending team, but Spain arguably went too far the other way at times during their period of dominance They were loath to send the ball long under any circumstances, often taking short free kicks and corners simply as a matter of course.
Four years ago, off the back of three consecutive wins in international tournaments, Spain had a fiercely well-established style of play and were in no hurry to change it. They had dominated opponents in their own inimitable way, with an ideological purity that Costa's selection seemed to contradict. But the harsh beauty of him lies in his antithetical nature.
In many ways he looks like entirely the wrong type of player for Spain, but that’s precisely what makes him so perfect. If their outlandishly graceful midfield can be characterised as a velvet glove, then Costa is the steel fist at its centre. He offers a destructive threat that even the most skilled of teams shouldn’t be afraid to use.
