James Holland lauds ‘dirty’ Diego Costa as Spain striker battles to be fit for Champions League final

JAMES Holland is expecting some “dirty” play from Spain and says Australia should be ready to fight fire with fire when they meet.

SOCCEROOS midfielder James Holland is expecting some “dirty” play from world champions Spain and feels Australia should be prepared to fight fire with fire when they face them in Brazil.

The 25-year-old, who plays in the Austrian top flight with Austria Vienna, competed in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) this season.

He faced the likes of newly crowned Spanish champions and UCL finalists Atletico Madrid who boast several Spanish internationals including striker Diego Costa, who went off injured in Atleti’s final game of the season, putting him in doubt for next weekend’s Champions League final against Real Madrid.

Holland says he's bracing for a some possible underhanded tactics when Australia face Spain in their final World Cup group match on June 23 in Curitiba, particularly from Costa.

“He's a fantastic player. Very dirty, but fantastic,” Holland said on Sunday.

“Yeah maybe (we will have to fight fire with fire). He takes it to a new level.” Having only arrived on the NSW Central Coast from Austria on Saturday night, Holland was consigned to just light duties on Sunday while the other 15 Socceroos in camp had a full training session.

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The newly-crowned Spanish champion lost star striker Costa to a recurrence of a hamstring injury and midfield schemer Arda Turan with a knee problem during the 1-1 draw with Barcelona that secured the title.

James Holland says Australia will have to fight fire with fire in Brazil.

Chelsea target Costa was pictured in tears as he left the field after only 14 minutes, with immediate concern about his place for the final in Lisbon and possibly his position in Spain’s World Cup squad as well.

The 25-year-old scored 27 goals in Atletico’s rise to the top of La Liga and was linked with a £32m move to Stamford Bridge last week.

Local media suggested after the game that Turan’s injury was not as bad as first expected and he is more likely to face Real Madrid on Saturday when Atletico go for the double.

With 13 midfielders in the 30-man squad Holland is yet to be assured a spot in the final 23 and may feel some pressure from rising stars Adam Sarota and Oliver Bozanic.

But he's hoping playing against some of the world's best footballers in the prestigious UCL will give him an edge.

Atletico's Diego Costa was left in tears after his injury.

“I had a full season and I was able to experience some champions League games, it can only help me,” he said.

“For me it was good to test myself against those kind of players. That's the level you're expecting in the World Cup as well.

“So it does help.” With 12 caps under his belt, Holland is one of the more experienced players in Ange Postecoglou's preliminary 30-man squad. But he knows that won't count for much when the coach names his final 23.

“Ange is fair, I know if you do well on the training field you will get your chance,” he said.

“It's up to us at the end of the day.

“He doesn't necessarily look at experience, he looks at form and hopefully I can put my best foot forward.”

Originally published as James Holland lauds ‘dirty’ Diego Costa as Spain striker battles to be fit for Champions League final