Vicente Del Bosque keeping faith in Diego Costa for Euro 2016

Last Monday, Spurs set a new Premier League record for number of yellow cards in one game and one of their players was even banned for six games for trying to poke someone's eye out, but the narrative that consistently makes for better headlines is Diego Costa and his never-ending antics*.  Which we haven't really seen over the last couple games, so perhaps they're not so never-ending, but whatever.

* Note this wonderful phrasing from Sky Sports about the Dembélé-Costa incident, which insinuates that Costa was the cause of Dembélé's six-match ban; LOL: "Costa has been involved in numerous controversial on-field incidents, the latest coming in last week's fiery 2-2 draw against Tottenham when he clashed with Mousa Dembele, resulting in the Spurs midfielder being banned for six matches by the Football Association."

Here's Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque having to (also) answer for the man he's likely to pick to lead his team at Euro 2016 starting next month.

"We can justify if he has played well or badly, but he has committed no crime. With us he has always acted correctly. There have been some unsavoury incidents, but he hasn't committed any crime and he always comes here with plenty of desire."

"That is what we value and we are not going to doubt him because of his behaviour."

-Vicente Del Bosque; source: Sky

Freddie Mercury elaborated on VDB's comments 39 years ago.  (39?!!?  Wow.)

"I've paid my dues, time after time. I've done my sentence, but committed no crime."

"And bad mistakes — I've made a few. I've had my share of sand kicked in my face, but I've come through. And I need just go on and on, and on, and on."

"We are the champions."

-source: News of the World

Del Bosque's hoping for a three-peat.  He might not need Diego Costa to do it, but if the Chelsea man can reproduce some of his best club form for his adopted country, he just might.