It wasn’t pretty but it was effective. Diego Costa’s first Spain goal was one of the scruffiest, least refined goals you’re ever likely to see, but after more than six-and-a-half goalless games, the aesthetics matter far less than the fact that it happened at all.

Costa, on fire this season for Chelsea, had looked strangely subdued when wearing La Roja colours, almost as if the red shirt weighed far heavier than the blue. He had a few half chances in the first half against Luxembourg that were either saved or blocked, but the effort he sent wide, when clean through with only the goalkeeper to beat from 12 yards, was the nadir.

Fortunately the climb began shortly after the hour. It was a true poacher’s goal, the kind he has scored regularly for Chelsea, albeit with an added layer of raggedness – and fortune – before the ball eventually fell kindly. The chances of David Silva scuffing a shot quite as he did, particularly on a night where he was the standout player on the pitch, are minimal. But it happened, and Costa profited.

Costa’s search for a goal was made all the more frustrating as Paco Alcacer continued to make international football look easy. The Valencia striker got his third for Spain in only his fourth appearance and threatened to overshadow Costa once more. Alcacer’s goal, from Silva’s cut-back, had the mark of a player acting on instinct, where Costa was overthinking his every touch when presented with a chance.

It’s telling that it was when Costa was given no time or space to do anything but thump the ball as hard as he could that he finally broke his duck. Whether it was an accumulation of nerves or pressure, brought on by the constant focus on Costa’s international career – from switching allegiance to struggling at the World Cup and doing little better after it – the ruthless goal scorer at club level had been replaced by something altogether different.

Time will tell if Costa goes on a scoring streak now. It’s unfortunate for him – but not for Jose Mourinho – that it’s almost exactly a month until the next round of internationals. Belarus are up next and after that, world champions Germany. That means a month for Costa to put international football out of mind and a month until the inevitable complaints from Mourinho that Costa isn’t fit enough for international duty.

Alcacer has to wait a month as well but as he looks as if he’s been playing international football all his life, rather than a few months, it should be less of a concern. By then the merits of Valencia’s title challenge will be known in greater detail and if Los Che are to be genuine contenders at the top of the table, Alcacer’s goals will have plenty to do with it.

It’s becoming increasingly clear too that if Spain are to again challenge for honours, Alcacer will have a crucial role there as well. Costa could be a dangerous international striker but Alcacer already is.

La Liga - Club News