Spain forward Diego Costa believes injury concerns are behind him

Spain striker Diego Costa has been dealing with a hamstring injury leading up to the start of the 2014 World Cup, but he claims those injury concerns are behind him and he is ready to go in Brazil. 

Costa played in La Roja's final tune-up game against El Salvador a few days ago, and that performance has given him the confidence that he needs to get in the right mindset as Spain prepares for its World Cup opener against the Netherlands on Friday in a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final.

"I needed the game the other day to get rid of the sensation that my injury would come back," Costa told MARCA.com. "I felt good the other two times, but I played and it came back. It was just what I needed and I feel much better – also in terms of my mood and enthusiasm, but the main thing is the injury. I'm fully fit and there won't be any problems." 

It will be interesting to see how Costa is received by the fans in Brazil, after deciding to play for Spain despite being born in Lagarto, Brazil, and only receiving his Spanish citizenship in September of last year.