Vincente del Bosque picks Diego Costa for Spain's World Cup squad
Choice seen as a gamble due to lingering worries over Atletico Madrid forward's recent leg injury
World Cup holders Spain included striker Diego Costa in their 23-man squad for Brazil despite lingering worries over a leg injury.
Costa has been hobbled for weeks by a right thigh muscle problem, but coach Vicente del Bosque is prepared to gamble that the Atletico Madrid forward will be fit to lead the defending champions' attack.
Costa, who is a Brazilian-born Spanish national, is expected to start ahead of Fernando Torres and David Villa, who were also in the squad.
As expected, winger Jesus Navas was left out while Juan Mata was included in the squad despite a mixed Premier League season.
Spain open their campaign against the Netherlands on June 13 in a repeat of the 2010 final. The world champions also play Chile and Australia in group B.
Sixteen of the 23 squad players who lifted the World Cup four years ago return for Spain.
Del Bosque seemed to choose players like Mata and Torres on favour rather than obvious merit heading into Brazil, with Real Madrid playmaker Isco among those discarded. Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara was unavailable owing to injury.