Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said Thursday he was optimistic that injured duo Diego Costa and Jesus Navas would both be fit in time for the World Cup.
“The prospects appear to be good. On Friday the pair of them will undergo tests. Diego will have a radiology test, as for Jesus he seems to be fine,” Del Bosque said at a press conference on the eve of Friday’s friendly with Bolivia in Sevilla.
“We will evaluate their conditions and take a decision Saturday morning,” added Del Bosque, who is expected to reveal his final 23-man squad for Brazil on Saturday.
Atletico Madrid striker Costa has battled an ongoing hamstring problem that limited him to just nine minutes in last weekend’s Champions League final defeat to city rivals Real, a week after he was forced off 15 minutes into his side’s title decider with Barcelona.
The head doctor of the clinic where the Spain team sent Costa for a scan warned on Monday that he would require at least two weeks of rest before he could return to action.
Meanwhile, Manchester City winger Navas has been sidelined with an ankle injury since mid-April.
Del Bosque delayed naming his full World Cup squad last Sunday to allow himself more time to monitor their conditions.
Instead he announced a list of 19 players for the World Cup holders’ friendly against Bolivia, leaving out players from the two Spanish teams in last Saturday’s Champions League final.
Del Bosque said he would use his full allotment of players in Sevilla, downplaying suggestions that certain individuals would be auditioning for a seat on the plane to Brazil.
