Sergio Ramos hints at discontent in Spain dressing room about Chelsea striker Diego Costa missing Italy game

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Sergio Ramos hinted at the discontent in the Spain squad over Diego Costa’s absence from the game against Italy on Saturday when he spoke about the player’s extended holidays in Brazil.

Spain are top of their qualifying group but Italy have the same number of points and the victors at the Santiago Bernabeu will take a huge step towards automatic qualification to Russia 2018.

Asked if he would have liked to see Costa make more effort to be fit enough to participate in the game Ramos said: ‘I could say a thousand things on Diego Costa. Every player plans his holidays and his life as he sees fit. I don’t know the matter [with his club] so I can’t say anything about that. I hope that if right now he has more time to rest then he can come back with the same attitude as ever.’

Sergio Ramos spoke to the media about Diego Costa on Friday before the match with Italy

Spain will be without Chelsea striker Costa for the World Cup qualifier on Saturday

Ramos has picked out players for a lack of commitment before and the mention of Costa’s ‘holidays’ and ‘rest’ as Spain face the meanest defence in European football for a place in the World Cup was widely interpreted as criticism of the Chelsea forward in Spain on Friday.

Ramos criticised Costa and Cesc Fabregas in 2014 when they pulled out of a Spain squad for a match against Belarus through injury.

He said at the time that players not reporting to be tested by the national team’s medical staff: ‘Could create a doubt among, not just team-mates, but with fans.’

Spain coach Julen Lopetegui has defended Costa this week pointing to his club problems as having made it impossible for him to be available for selection but it has not gone unnoticed that Philippe Coutinho, who has had a similar stand-off with Liverpool, played and scored for Brazil on Thursday night.

Spain sit top of their World Cup qualifying group but Italy have the same number of points