Spanish fans want misfiring Chelsea striker Diego Costa out of the national team for Euro 2016

The Spanish public want Chelsea striker Diego Costa out of the nation's 23-man squad for the European Championship next summer, according to a poll in Marca. Costa has failed to make any significant impact in his matches at international level and La Roja fans want him shunned to make space for Arsenal January taget Nolito, Pedro Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata.

Costa has often been scrutinised in Spain ever since he decided to play with the nation during World Cup 2014, despite being born and raised in Brazil. Some fans, as well as Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos, have questioned whether the player's aggressive style even fits in with Spain's tiki-taka philosophy.

The Chelsea striker has struggled to prove his doubters wrong, scoring just one goal in nine appearances for Spain. He was made a scapegoat for Spain's humiliation at the last World Cup and failed to turn this perception around with a series of underwhelming performances during the Euro qualifiers.

Vicente del Bosque left the player out of his squad for the recent qualifiers against Luxembourg and Ukraine, admitting he was unimpressed by the striker's actions during an ill-tempered match against Arsenal on 19 September.

"We have made the decision we considered right. But we already thought [about leaving him out of the squad] before [as he was suspended for the first match]. But his ban is not something uplifting. It was not nice. I certainly do not like what he did,"

Del Bosque opted to call up Arsenal target Nolito and Morata instead, but suggested Costa was still his first choice.

"[Costa] can't play the first game and we have opted to [not] include him in the squad. He is not playing bad and we count on him for the future," Del Bosque said in a press conference."

But Spaniards have urged Del Bosque to put Costa out of his thoughts entirely. A poll in Marca, which saw over 73,000 votes, revealed that the general public want the Chelsea hitman out of the 23-man squad, with an attack of Nolito, Morata and Pedro preferred – meaning Valencia's Paco Alcacer would also be out in the cold.

Nolito has captured the heart of Spanish fans after scoring five goals in the opening seven games of La Liga, also impressing in the country's win over Ukraine that wrapped up their qualifying campaign. Reports have linked him with moves to both Barcelona and Arsenal, both sides apparently willing to meet his €18m (£13.3m, $20.5m) release clause in January.

Pedro, Cesar Azpilicueta and Cesc Fabregas would be therefore the Chelsea players in Del Bosque's squad. Meanwhile, Manchester United duo David De Gea and Juan Mata, Arsenal's Santi Cazorla and Manchester City's David Silva would complete the Premier League representation.

Another pool by Marca revealed that Spanish fans want Del Bosque to use De Gea as a starter next summer, despite Iker Casillas currently being the boss's first choice.