France and Spain are playing an international friendly match Thursday following the World Cup and ahead of the Euro 16 qualifying at the Stade de France and the match is live from ESPN on the WatchESPN website and kickoff time comes at 3 pm ET and 9 PM local time as the former champion team try to rebound after losing in Brazil and Diego Costa will be trying to put that all behind the team.
Spain won the World Cup in 2010 and the team came into Brazil as one of the favorites, but they ended up crashing out and they only lasted until the group stage. The team has a number of new players with David Villa finishing with the team and now Diego Costa is one of the players that will have to step up as the team moves into a new era. Spain won the Euros after taking the World Cup and now they have the chance to start over as Russia 2018 starts to get closer.
Spain was the most disappointing team in the World Cup after they flamed out in the group stage and that came after the team won in 2010 and was considered to be favorites for this tournament. Spain was in Group B and they did not win until it was too late and they won one game and lost two while scoring four goals and allowing seven and that put them out with Australia, while Chile and the Netherlands advanced.
Didier Deschamps knows that his team had the chance to be better during the World Cup and they were strong most of the way before losing. The team had Karim Benzema and other players looking strong and they have a nice foundation moving forward for the next World Cup. Spain has been the best team in the world for a while and now that Xavi Hernandez and Xabi Alonso are gone, the team has to start over in a way.
Spain comes in after winning two Euro titles and the World Cup as well and they have a nice set coming into this tournament this year. The team is favored in qualifying and they have an easy group with Ukraine, Slovakia, Belarus and Luxembourg and they should easily be able to get through, as none of those teams were even in the World Cup.
Diego Costa is the player to watch and he comes in playing well after opening the season in the Premier League with Chelsea. Costa has been making an impact and the Blues are now in first place in the EPL on the league table after winning their three games. Diego Costa can be the difference for Spain and if he plays well, the team has the chance to come into the main tournament with some momentum and while it's down the line, he can be the new star for the team with the others retired.
Check here for the France and Spain live coverage from ESPN.
