Wed 27 June 2018, 16:00
Tottenham HotspurSadio Mané will provide Senegal with a severe threat against Colombia but Davinson Sanchez insists he is up to the challenge.
Colombia will reach the knockout stages of the World Cup if they can overcome Senegal on Thursday (3pm UK) and our defender believes their chances of progressing will be significantly boosted if they can keep the Liverpool forward quiet.
Davinson is well-placed to outline the quality Mané possesses having played against him in our 2-2 draw at Anfield in February and thinks he will be equally menacing when they come face to face in Samara.
He doesn’t need too much space to create chances or score goals
“He’s fast, I know, but I am fast as well,” said Davinson. “The difference now is that he doesn’t play with his normal team-mates. At Liverpool it’s different because every player is playing for a different national team. It’s a different situation for Mané now but the guy is always dangerous.”
A draw could also be enough for Colombia to advance as Group H runners-up but they would need Japan to lose to Poland. However, Davinson is convinced they can prevail and points to their defensive solidity in the 3-0 win against Poland as proof that they can deal with top-class attackers.
“Mané doesn’t need too much space to create chances or score goals. But, for me, always the most important thing is how you feel in the moment and concentrating on what you need to do to stop players like Mané or Lewandowski.”
