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...

Russia defender Sergei Ignashevich says he is not bothered by potential provocation from World Cup opponents Sergio Ramos and Diego Costa because of the Video Assistant Referee system.

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.

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.

Chelsea plan to 'withhold' part of Antonio Conte's severance package as they feel his infamous text message to Diego Costa damaged his transfer value and cost the club millions.

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.

PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: There have been flashes of the beast that Chelsea signed but all too often the dark clouds have rolled in. On the pitch he has lost his edge and off it something is affecting him.

Football fans are used to seeing Diego Costa play with a snarl. But this time he let out a wide smile for the camera as he posed for a picture with one of his footballing idols, Ronaldo.

The striker is currently recuperating from surgery on his left foot and is expected to be out until February but that did not prevent him from scheming against team-mate Lucas Hernandez.

Sportsmail provide you with everything you need to know for the Champions League kast-16 first leg of Atletico Madrid vs Juventus including kick-off time, date and channel plus squads and odds.

Away from the main action, there were several talking points which may have slipped under your radar. Don't fear, Sportsmail is here to catch you up on the things you missed...

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.

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.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa was sent off for dissent during Saturday's defeat by Barcelona after reportedly aiming a vile insult to the referee regarding his mother.

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.

With just seven games left Costa, who was shown a straight red card, will not feature for the remainder of the season and may have played his last game for Atletico Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti is said to be an admirer of the former Chelsea forward and approves of his club's interest in the Spanish international. Costa has endured a tough first full season back at Atletico.

Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani 'has agreed a move from Paris Saint-Germain to Atletico Madrid'. He is Atletico's No 1 summer target if Diego Costa departs for the Chinese Super League.

Atletico Madrid have prioritised a move for PSG striker Edinson Cavani this summer. Diego Simeone has selected the experienced Uruguayan as an option.

Diego Costa is ready to talk to Everton over a stunning return to the Premier League after two years away, according to The Sun.

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.

Diego Costa scored four goals and was later sent off as Real Madrid were beaten 7-3 by city rivals Atletico, leaving Zidane 'hurt' but 'not concerned' at the result.

Only when the dark nights have been and gone and this tournament reaches its late stages, will we find out whether Pep Guardiola has what it takes to resolve the frailties at the back of his team.

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 30-year-old is generating interest and Al Rayyan see Costa as a viable alternative to Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic, after talks broke down to acquire the Croatian this summer.

Fikayo Tomori first made a name for himself as he came through the ranks at Chelsea when he broke Diego Costa's nose. Now it is his central defensive displays which have got people talking.

While Atletico are still keeping pace with La Liga's top two, their performances have left fans frustrated with three of their last four league games ending as goalless stalemates.

Trippier has made a positive start to life at the La Liga giants so far and has fitted in well in Diego Simeone's squad - striking up a great connection with Costa, who he knows from his Premier League days.

Manchester United decided to let Romelu Lukaku leave in the summer without bringing in a replacement, although they are expected to snap a striker up in the January transfer window.

Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata scored for the sixth game in a row to help his side to a 3-1 win at home to struggling Espanyol on Sunday, taking them up to third in La Liga.

Diego Costa is mulling over the option of a return to his homeland, after reportedly entering talks with Copa Libertadores champions Flamengo.

PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: Atletico are eight points off the lead in La Liga, on Thursday night they were dumped out of the Copa del Rey by a third division side and Liverpool loom on the horizon in Europe.

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.

As Liverpool saw their Champions League title defence ended in dramatic fashion by Atletico Madrid at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp fumed at the style of his opponents. Sportsmail looks at where it was lost.

Roma are reportedly interested in signing Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa as the Italian side look to add to their depleted striking options for next season.

PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: Atletico know it's unlikely but they have to cling to something. The horizon will look very dark for them otherwise - they would stand to lose around £88m from missed revenue

Kim Yo-jong (left) sat alongside her brother and his wife at North Korea's mass games in Pyongyang, the first time she has been seen in 50 days following reports she was sent to a labour camp.

President Donald Trump said North Korea's special representative to the U.S. for nuclear negotiations had not been assassinated and said he looks forward to meeting again with Kim Jong-un.

The North Korean mass games are a spectacle of gymnastic synchronisation believed to be the world's 'biggest human performance' held at Rungrado, reportedly the world's biggest stadium.

South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg vowed that he wouldn't write 'love letters' on White House letterhead to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un if he became president - a jab at Donald Trump.

The magnitude 1.3 quake took place in the Chinese city of Hunchun at 19:38pm local time today with a focal depth of zero metres, reported China seismic network.

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

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.

Trump heads to the DMZ on Sunday, after tweeting from the G-20 in Osaka: 'If Chairman Kim of North Korea sees this, I would meet him at the Border/DMZ just to shake his hand and say Hello(?)!'

Carlson watched the notoriously heavy smoker speaking to Trump as Kim welcomed the US president into North Korea - the first ever to ever set foot in the secretive state.

Two Bradley Fighting vehicles were seen being driven past the Nationals' baseball stadium on Tuesday. Two M1 Abrams tanks and an armored M88 recovery unit will be at the 'Salute to America' event.

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.

As final preparations are made for Donald Trump's elaborate 'Salute to America' July Fourth celebration in Washington on Thursday, not everyone is as excited as the president himself.