World Cup: Diego Costa and the return of ‘La Furia Roja’
Diego Costa adds an element of ferocity to a Spanish side brimming with flair and artistry; but, rather surprisingly, it is the pugnacious striker’s style that better reflects La Roja’s roots.
La Furia Roja
The Oxford Dictionary defines fury as ‘wild or violent anger,’ far from words one would typically ascribe to the Spanish national team. However, spool the reel back about a century and it was exactly how the footballing world viewed La Roja.
During the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, the Spanish side espoused a doctrine of brazen aggression and directness, caricatured by their captain Jose Maria Belauste.
In Inverting the Pyramid, Jonathan Wilson describes Belauste as:
"“A battered figure, his nose flattened by frequent blows, swollen ears pinned back by the knotted handkerchief he wore on his head to disguise his incipient alopecia.”"
Spain were trailing Sweden by a goal to nil in a group game when in the 50th minute Belauste ordered Sabino Bilbao to pass him the ball: “¡A mí el pelotón, Sabino, que los arrollo!” – Send me that ball, Sabino, I’ll crush them!
Young Sabino crossed the ball to his captain who, according to legendary Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora, ‘carried the ball into the net on his chest with four Swedes clinging to his shirt.’
Spain’s barbarous style of play led them to a 2-1 win and for the Belgian media to assign them the nickname ‘La Furia Roja;’ a phrase originally coined in 1576 after the Spanish sacking of Antwerp, an attack regarded as the most brutal massacre in Belgian history.
The rebirth of La Furia Roja
Almost a hundred years on, Spain lined up against Argentina in a ‘friendly’ match ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
Ten minutes into the game, a snarling Diego Costa harried an opponent out of possession, allowing a loose ball to fall to the feet of Marco Asensio. The play-maker sent a teasing ball through the centre which Costa set upon like a hunting dog after a wounded pheasant.
Costa got there first in an ugly three way collision, leaving himself and two Argentinean’s battered and bruised on the floor – and the ball nestled in the back of the net.
The Del Bosque era
It is fair to say that Diego Costa had an inauspicious start to his international career.
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After choosing to represent Spain, the Brazilian born striker traveled to the 2014 World Cup as the host country’s number one enemy.
Costa started the opening two games against the Netherlands and Chile but, much to the delight of the perpetually booing home fans, the defending champions lost both fixtures and were unceremoniously dumped out.
Costa was subsequently left out of Del Bosque’s squad for the 2016 European Championship; a grave error in hindsight.
After losing to Croatia in the group stage, La Roja faced Italy in the last 16. Starting with Alvaro Morata up top, the Spaniards lacked any bite to their pressing game. The Italians played it out from the back at will, again sending the Spanish home early, and marking the end of the Del Bosque era.
The Lopetegui era
Julen Lopetegui’s Spain won nine and drew one in the qualifying stages for Russia. Although the campaign coincided with Costa’s hiatus from the game amid a messy transfer back to Atletico Madrid, the striker managed to add 5 goals in 406 minutes.
Costa has looked his industrious and opposition riling self since returning to the Wanda Metropolitano, the very pastures that he revived the spirit of Belauste and reiterated his dedication to the Spanish national team.
Next: Belgium player ratings vs Portugal
Diego Costa may be a bull among a team of matadors, but he may just provide La Roja with the cojones they’ll need as they bid to add another star to their jersey.