PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: A rare error from Manchester United keeper David de Gea meant Spain failed to sign off with a win before they fly to Russia as one of the World Cup favourites.

Ramos placed a finger over his lips and struck a provocative pose after finding himself as the subject of criticism following his role in Real Madrid's Champions League win over Liverpool.

Spain stepped up their preparations for opening their World Cup campaign against Portugal in five days' time with a training session in Krasnodar on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo struck in the dying moments to seal a hat-trick and rescue a 3-3 draw for Portugal against Spain in a stunning Group B contest at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi.

Diego Costa scored the winner as Spain beat Iran 1-0 in their World Cup clash - but should he have been on the pitch? Sportsmail's JAMIE REDKNAPP and GRAHAM POLL had their say on it...

PETE JENSON: ‘Stop asking stupid questions’ Diego Costa told an Iranian journalist last night when he was asked about his ‘provocative’ behaviour in Spain’s win over Iran.

he controversial striker looked to have finally met his as he was given a telling off by captain Sergio Ramos as Fernando Hierro's men geared up for their clash with Morocco on Monday night.

IAN HERBERT AT KALININGRAD STADIUM: It’s going to be a long climb to the top of the world, if Spain are going to get there. But they narrowly avoided facing Uruguay next.

The mood in Fernando Hierro's Spain camp appears to be hugely relaxed ahead of Sunday's last 16 clash with Russia. La Roja were pictured enjoying an evening session in Krasnodar.

Spain will play Russia in the knockout stages of the World Cup 2018 and the last-16 clash is already proving to be controversial. Here is all you need to know about the knockout stage clash.

Leaning back on a sun-lounger outside his family’s modest Brazilian home last summer, Diego Costa’s mind fleetingly turned to the World Cup.

Spain and Russia go head-to-head on Sunday afternoon as they look to book a place in the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup. Join Sportsmail's ADAM SHERGOLD for the latest.

Before kick-off at the Luzhniki, all the talk was about the member of the great Spain side of 2010 who was absent - however it was those that remained ended up under the harsh spotlight.

MARTIN SAMUEL AT THE LUZHNIKI STADIUM: Passed to death. That should be Spain’s epitaph at this World Cup. They tried to pass Russia into oblivion but only extinguished themselves.

Diego Costa scored a brace on Wednesday night to drag the match against the Champions League holders to extra-time before Koke and Saul Niguez struck to win the tie for Atletico Madrid.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has withdrawn from the Spain squad for the Nations League matches against England and Croatia, with Celta Vigo's Iago Aspas replacing him.

The 29-year-old scored 52 goals across three Premier League campaigns at Stamford Bridge and was a part of two title-winning squads but he was allegedly deemed surplus to requirements by Conte.

Wales welcome Spain to the Principality Stadium in a friendly fixture ahead of their UEFA Nations League clash against the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday. Follow all the action here.

Diego Simeone's side would be guaranteed a place in the knockout stages of the competition with a victory against Monaco at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday night.

Eden Hazard was back to his brilliant best in his preferred role on the left-wing against Tottenham on Thursday after playing in a false 9 role in recent weeks.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa appeared to be enjoying himself as he relaxed after a training session at the club's Wanda Metropolitano stadium.

It looked as though Chelsea fans were really missing Diego Costa after his performance in Atletico Madrid's win over Juventus on Wednesday. Costa re-signed for Atletico in 2018.

A World Cup winner who has played with some of football's biggest talents, Antoine Griezmann was never going to be short of options when it came to choosing his dream five-a-side team.

PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: There isn’t a single Atletico Madrid supporter who hasn’t dreamed of it: June 1, winning the Champions League in their own stadium, third time lucky.

KIERAN GILL - THE NUMBERS GAME: Chelsea lost Costa in 2017. Morata could not fill his boots, while Giroud has long been deemed a back-up striker. Now it is Gonzalo Higuain’s turn.

John Terry has spoken about his future managerial ambitions and also revealed some of the bizarre superstitions he had as a player. He had a variety of unusual quirks.

Gerard Pique was pictured having a word in Diego Costa's ear as he walked towards the tunnel, with some suggesting he was trying to wind-up the Spain striker.

Diego Costa may have played his last game for Atletico Madrid depending on Wednesday's Spanish Football Federation decision on how many games he will be banned for after his red card.

Diego Costa has decided not to train with his Atletico Madrid team-mates, despite the club confirming he is not suffering from an injury. He received an eight-game ban for a red card last week.

Diego Costa has been told by Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone that ‘any player who wants to leave, can leave,’ as the controversial striker returned to training.

THE NUMBERS GAME - KIERAN GILL: The last time West Ham had a striker who scored 20-or-more goals, Eminem's Just Lose It was topping the charts and the Apple iPhone did not exist.

Real Madrid were torn apart by their fierce rivals in New York as Atletico Madrid put on a seven-goal masterclass in the International Champions Cup clash in New York City.

Atletico Madrid have been hit with a setback after in-form striker Alvaro Morata was ruled out of the upcoming match with Eibar due to a knee injury.

Eden Hazard's current manager at Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane, scored an incredible match-deciding volley in the 2002 Champions League final as Real Madrid beat Bayer Leverkusen.

The 31-year-old has been out since November after a herniated disc injury and it was feared he would be out for the rest of the season, but now the player is confident of starting the Liverpool clash.

The Pyongyang strongman beamed as he led Xi on a stroll through the gardens of the city's state guest house and hosted a lunch with

Alex Sigley, a 29-year-old student of Korean Literature at Kim Il Sung University, has been arrested and the Australian government is frantically trying to work out why.

Alek Sigley's wife Yuka Morinaga said she received her last message from him on Monday. The 26-year-old, who is based in Tokyo, usually speaks to Mr Sigley every day on WhatsApp.

Perth man Alek Sigley, missing in North Korea, may have been silenced ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to the demilitarized zone, an expert said on Friday.

Donald Trump is closing down Washington D.C.'s airspace for his 'biggest fireworks ever' and Air Force One flyby, causing two hours of delays and cancellations for July 4 travelers in the capital.

The Australian student's business partner, Michelle Joyce, said she would 'be surprised' if he didn't return to the country despite the negative experience.

The hermit country claimed on Saturday that Alek Sigley had spread anti-Pyongyang propaganda by providing photos and other materials to news outlets with critical views toward the North.

Mr Sigley, 29, returned to social media late on Wednesday, where he released a brief statement after assuring everyone he was well, mentally and physically.

Alek Sigley (left), 29, who is believed to be the only Australian living in North Korea, went missing this week after a series of posts on social media about life in the mysterious capital of Pyongyang.

The Coast Guard says the short-range projectiles did not reach Japanese waters or the  Exclusive Economic Zone.

North Korea has been left begging for extra cash from Chinese backers after its missile test sight turned beach resort has been delayed again. The site was originally meant to be finished this April.

Kaoru Hasuike and his girlfriend Yukiko spent 24 years as captives in North Korea, where he was forced to work training spies after being kidnapped from a Japanese beach.

John Bolton bashed any future talks between Trump and North Korea and Iran, claiming they are 'doomed to failure.' 'He ripped Trump, without using his name, several times,' one attendee said.

Volodymyr Zelensky, who once played a hapless President on TV but was elected to the real-life presidency in April, put on the mock presentation for guests at a summit in Yalta earlier this month.

Singapore-based drug smuggler Wee Quay Tan, 48, who also has a large tattoo of a dragon inked over his shoulders and chest, found himself in the middle of the biggest drug bust in Australian history.