5 Spanish players who need stellar seasons to ensure World Cup spots

The 2018 World Cup in Russia kicks off in a little more than eight months, and a handful of Spanish internationals with caps under their belts face missing out on the quadrennial contest because of their domestic standings.

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Here’s a look at five Spain hopefuls who need cracking campaigns with their clubs to cement inclusion in Julen Lopetegui’s 23-man squad:

Diego Costa

Temperamental Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa will have to wait until January to sport Los Rojiblancos’ strip in a competitive match, and considering the wealth of attacking options at Lopetegui’s disposal, that could jeopardise the Brazilian-born goal-machine’s place in Russia.

With Chelsea duo Alvaro Morata and Pedro certainties to make the squad, the gaffer will be faced with a tough decision as Costa vies for a place alongside Jose Callejon, Aritz Aduriz, Iago Aspas, Gerard Deulofeu, Lucas Vazquez, and MLS MVP and national goal-scoring pacesetter David Villa. If Lopetegui is looking for a match-winner, the former Porto manager would be wise to bank on the incalculable …read more

Source: https://www.thescore.com/news/1331253