Del Bosque: Stability key ahead of World Cup

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque preached the importance of stability in his squad ahead of their World Cup defence as he prepared to hand Diego Costa his debut against Italy on Wednesday. The match at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid will be Spain's last before Del Bosque has to name a provisional squad in May to go to Brazil in June. "There is no more time to prepare. We will play two games before the World Cup in Seville and Washington," he said at a press conference on Tuesday. "Thankfully we have a stable group which is an advantage when the schedule is so tight. It is the same for all the national teams and hopefully we will arrive in good condition to the World Cup." Spain will face Bolivia in Seville on May 30, just six days after the Champions League final, before flying to Washington to play El Salvador eight days later. Del Bosque must name a final 23-man squad on June 2. They will then travel to their World Cup base in Curitiba ahead of their opening game against the Netherlands on June 13 in Salvador. Costa is one new face in Del Bosque's 22-man squad for the meeting with Italy, the side Spain beat 4-0 in the final of Euro 2012. The Atletico Madrid striker should make his debut on home soil at the Vicente Calderon after switching his allegiances from Brazil to Spain. And Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba insisted the squad are delighted to welcome the man who trails only Cristiano Ronaldo in the race to be La Liga's top goalscorer this season. "We have received him with open arms, he is a player that I love. For the rest of the team and I it is incredible that he is here," he said. "I haven't noticed any difference in the integration of Diego Costa to any other player. He has adapted completely normally to the team," added Del Bosque. Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara also returns to the squad after missing Spain's final few qualifiers due to injury in September and October last year. And after winning back-to-back European Championships at under-21 level, he is desperate for success with the senior side. "I think the dream of every player from a young age is to play in a World Cup, but there are still a few months to go until the squad is named," said Thiago, whose father Mazinho won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994. "I am excited because it is the chance to play in a World Cup, not because it is in Brazil. My family's origins are there, but it is the tournament itself which motivates me." Source: AFP