World Cup

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Attendance: 43,866

World Cup | Group Stage

Jun 15, 2018 at 7pm UK

Portugal
3-3
Spain

Ronaldo (4' pen., 44', 88')

FT(HT: 2-1)

Costa (24', 55'), Nacho (58')

Jose Mourinho: 'Diego Costa withdrawal changed game between Portugal, Spain'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter

Published: June 16 2018 | 14:11

Last updated: June 16 2018 | 20:44

Jose Mourinho blames Spain's failure to hold on to their lead against Portugal on Fernando Hierro's decision to substitute striker Diego Costa.

Jose Mourinho has blamed Spain's failure to hold on to their lead against Portugal on Fernando Hierro's decision to substitute striker Diego Costa in the latter stages of the game.

The Atletico Madrid forward, who worked under Mourinho at Chelsea, twice levelled the scores for La Roja in the World Cup Group B game before being withdrawn in the 77th minute.

Cristiano Ronaldo went on to score a late free kick to ensure a share of the spoils in a 3-3 draw, and Mourinho felt that Costa's withdrawal gifted the initiative to Portugal.

"I have to say that for me there was a game with Diego Costa and a game after Diego Costa," the Portuguese coach told RT.

"The game changed [when he went off]. For the first time, the Portuguese central defenders they were able to come up, they were not afraid of space behind them.

"They were more confident, they brought the team up. The team became more compact in the last 10 or 15 minutes, and then the free kick situation arrived."

Costa has won 21 caps for Spain, scoring nine goals.