Saul Niguez: Diego Costa always goes to war for Spain FIFA World Cup 2018 Paid tribute to the striker

Diego Costa has been praised by club and international teammate Saul Niguez, who paid tribute to the striker's attitude in leading the side in Russia.

In Spain's World Cup opener, he undoubtedly led from the front with two goals in a bruising performance. It was a display which Saul, who watched the 3-3 draw unfold from the bench, was left very impressed with.

"Diego Costa is a person who has been working in the shadows for a long time and when things didn't work for him, he kept working," Saul told MARCA.

"That's something that people can never criticise him for. They can't ever say that Diego hasn't given everything and in football, that's very important.

"He is good to some and bad to others but it is about opinions, a way of looking at football, but nobody can say that Diego doesn't go to war with all of us.

"He's always the first to and knows that he is very important for us. That's demonstrated every day."

While the Atletico Madrid striker received plenty of praise for his display, one man who was heavily criticised in the wake of it was ex-Rojiblanco David de Gea, who committed an uncharacteristic blunder to gift Cristiano Ronaldo a goal.

"David knows that he has the confidence of the entire team, the coaching staff and all of Spain," Saul stated.

"He has been waiting for his opportunity for a long time and he has been at the highest level many years so nobody can doubt him.

"It is true that his mistake against Portugal cost us but he knows that and it isn't a bad thing because he doesn't retreat or shy away from it.

"He's going to continue working and I'm sure he'll do well from now on. The team is with David, as we are with any teammate."

Unaccustomed to playing in a bench role at club level with Diego Simeone, the 23-year-old also revealed just how difficult it was for him to watch a World Cup classic unfold but being unable to do anything about it.

"Unfortunately I have to be on the bench for now and we are all ready for when the coach gives us an opportunity," he explained.

"Everyone has their role and if I have to wait now, what I'll do is support the team to the death from the outside. The feeling I had when they scored against us was terrible, very very bad.

"When the first one went in, I realised that the feeling you have on a bench is much different and you suffer much more."

The Atletico ace also shared his thoughts on the World Cup as a whole, given that is has thrown up some surprise results such as a Germany defeat and draws for Brazil and Argentina.

"In a World Cup, there is rarely a 5-0 result like there was between Russia and Saudi Arabia on the opening day," said Saul.

"The tension of these games is much greater. We have done well, after a great qualifying phase, but in a World Cup everything is equal.

"Teams have set game plans, there are close results... everything is very equal and close."