World Cup

[monks data]

Attendance: 43,866

World Cup | Group Stage

Jun 15, 2018 at 7pm UK

Portugal
3-3
Spain

Ronaldo (4' pen., 44', 88')

FT(HT: 2-1)

Costa (24', 55'), Nacho (58')

Diego Costa: 'Spain deserved to beat Portugal'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter

Published: June 16 2018 | 13:56

Last updated: June 16 2018 | 20:42

Diego Costa is frustrated with Spain's failure to beat Portugal in Friday's World Cup Group B encounter in Sochi, insisting that La Roja were worthy of victory.

Diego Costa has bemoaned Spain's failure to beat Portugal in Friday's World Cup Group B encounter in Sochi, insisting that La Roja were worthy of victory.

The Atletico Madrid forward struck twice as Spain came close to victory at the Fisht Olympic Stadium, only for Cristiano Ronaldo to convert a late free kick for a 3-3 final score.

Costa also suggested that he answered his critics following an indifferent World Cup campaign for Spain in 2014, insisting that he has to "work to shut people up" but adding that there is harmony within the Roja camp.

"I am very happy but we had a game sorted out and then they equalised from a free kick," Costa told reporters after the game.

"It was a good game, hard fought, and we go away with a strange feeling as we turned the match around but we allowed it to escape from us. I think we deserved to win, we created a lot more and had more of the ball. We equalised twice but we couldn't get the win at the end.

"I have to work to shut people up. The goals are important but the truth is that I felt good throughout the game. There always have to be debates because this means that there are battles and this is good for the team. We are a family."

Costa has won 21 caps for Spain, scoring nine goals.