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Diego Costa has been dropped from Spain's squad for their final two Euro 2016 qualifying fixtures - with Vicente Del Bosque critical of the striker's antics against Arsenal.

La Roja take on Luxembourg next Friday, before travelling to Ukraine three days later.

However, Costa will play no part, after being omitted by Del Bosque, following his role in Gabriel's sending off for Arsenal against Chelsea in the Premier League.

Costa has been retrospectively banned by the FA for his behaviour, after television replays conclusively showed he had struck Laurent Koscielny in the face.

Gabriel challenged Costa, and the Spaniard appeared to get under his skin as they retreated to the halfway line, leading to the defender being sent for an early bath by the referee.

(Image: Ross Kinnaird)

The dismissal was subsequently rescinded. Del Bosque was less than impressed by Costa's actions.

When explaining his decision to omit the striker from his squad, the Spain boss said: “What he did was unedifying, and that is why he was punished,” said Del Bosque.

“Of course, I didn’t like what he did.”

But Del Bosque denied that the Chelsea man had been dropped, despite a string of poor performances in the red of Spain and just one goal in nine appearances.

(Image: Dean Mouhtaropoulos)

“He can’t play the first game through suspension and we’ve decided not to bring him.

“He hasn’t played badly and it’s not on merit.”

Costa would have been ineligible for the first match against Luxembourg even if he had been selected, due to amassing too many booking in Spain's qualifying campaign.

The Premier League players to make the 23-man party are David De Gea, Cesar Azpilicueta, Cesc Fabregas, Santi Cazorla, Juan Mata, Pedro and David Silva.

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