World Cup

Yerry Mina: 'Harry Kane won't have an easy game'

By Jonny Whitfield, Reporter | 30 June 2018

Colombia defender Yerry Mina insists that he will "not make it easy" for England striker Harry Kane in Tuesday night's last-16 tie.

Colombia defender Yerry Mina has insisted that he will "not make it easy" for England striker Harry Kane in Tuesday night's last-16 tie.

Barcelona defender Mina scored two of his side's five goals in the group stages to help Jose Pekerman's charges progress to the knockout rounds in Russia.

The 23-year-old told The Mirror that with Kane's Tottenham Hotspur teammate Davinson Sanchez, Colombia will pose a stern threat for the Three Lions in Moscow.

"There is a reason that Harry Kane is the top scorer so far at the tournament - because he is one of the best strikers in the world," Mina said. "We know all about his qualities. I have a very strong partnership with Davinson Sanchez and Kane will not have an easy time against us.

"We are going to not make it an easy game for him. I think it does help that Davinson plays with him at Spurs. He has been training with him everyday for the last year - and that is going to give him extra knowledge about his qualities and the way he plays.

"I will be talking a lot with him between now and the game - and we will have a plan."

Colombia playmaker James Rodriguez is a doubt for Tuesday's game after the recurrence of a calf problem.