Diego Costa: 'Spain squad like a family'

Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa has claimed that the Spain squad "is like a family".

Tensions between representatives of Real Madrid and Barcelona have previously harmed the atmosphere in the La Roja squad.

However, talk of unrest has quietened in the build-up to this particular World Cup, and Costa has revealed that his on-field battles with Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos last season have long been forgotten.

"I knew many of them as a player in La Liga, but I never had much of a personal relationship with them," he told AS.

"Now I can say that they are a great group that make all new-comers feel welcome. This team is like a family.

"With Sergio Ramos, we've had some tough battles on the pitch, but the truth is that we're developing a friendship. He's always very attentive with me. He and everyone else."

Spain open their Group B campaign against Netherlands on June 13.