Diego Costa claims he's 'ok to go' for Spain national team duty

Like some young nationalist in century-ago Sarajevo, Diego Costa's risking the outbreak of full-on war between Chelsea and Spain with his latest claims just ahead of the two-week international break that's set to start after this weekend.  Archduke Mourinho will not be pleased.

"I hope I am okay to go with Spain.  If I played 90 minutes it is clear that I am fine, I am feeling better all the time, and it is the boss's [Vicente Del Bosque's] decision."

Costa pulled out of Spain's last game and has missed (or was rested for) a couple Chelsea games as well since then.  Mourinho recently revealed that Costa has even been put on a special training regime to try to manage the ongoing hamstring concerns, an arrangement that Diego himself has now confirmed.

"During the week I am working in an intensive way with the physios, because I have some issues from a while back."

Despite all that, Costa did play the full 90 minutes on Tuesday after playing over 80 minutes on Saturday.  And he's certainly going to start against Arsenal as well.  So contrary to his own claims, Mourinho is about to play Costa three times in the span of just eight days.  Hard to complain after that about the striker wanting to go on Spain duty, no?  Screwed yourself a bit on that one, Jose.

In contrast with the hot start to his Chelsea career, Costa is still looking for his first goal for Spain after five appearances.  I'm sure he's licking his chops at the prospect of facing Slovakia and Luxembourg to remedy all that.