Spain do Chelsea a favour, rest Diego Costa

Thanks to Chelsea first being in a commanding lead and then winning the title with time to spare, Diego Costa's had a relaxed end to the season. Which he needed, considering his hamstrings were being held together with duct tape for most of the year. He's been unable to rest much since hurting himself at the end of the 2013/14 campaign, so the Blues' merry stroll through the final months has been very welcome.

And now Spain are getting in on the lack-of-party. Vicente del Bosque has confirmed that Costa will not be in the squad for their upcoming matches against Costa Rica and Belarus:

He has muscle troubles and these are two very difficult games, in which we have to be sure. Let there be no doubt, we hold him in high regard and, in the same way that (Paco) Alcacer hasn't been called up, now it's the same for him.

-Source: Sky Sports.

With no international tournaments for our European players, perhaps Costa will finally get time to heal up properly before we begin our defence of the title. And after 20 goals in 24 Premier League starts, that idea should be fairly scary for everyone else.

PS: Cesc Fabregas is in the Spain squad, but for some reason Cesar Azpilicueta isn't. Again. Their loss.