‘I you’re not 100 per cent it’s going to be in your head… in the final he was not 100 per cent’: Virgil Van Dijk takes aim at Harry Kane ahead of Nations League semi-final
- Virgil van Dijk will renew his rivalry with Harry Kane in the Nations League
- Holland take on England in a semi-final match in Portugal on Thursday evening
- Van Dijk came out on top with Liverpool on Saturday in the Champions League
- Kane returned from injury for the final but Van Dijk knew he would have the edge
Virgil van Dijk has revealed he knew Harry Kane was not 100 per cent during the Champions League final.
Liverpool defender Van Dijk marked Kane out of the clash in Madrid on Saturday on his way to playing a key role in the Merseysiders lifting their sixth European Cup.
It was Tottenham striker Kane’s first game in seven weeks following a serious ankle ligament injury.
Virgil van Dijk took aim at Tottenham striker Harry Kane after the Champions League final
Kane returned from injury for the showpiece in Madrid but struggled to influence the game
Van Dijk and Kane will go head to head again on Thursday when England take on Holland in the UEFA Nations League semi-final.
And Dutch defender Van Dijk said: ‘Kane is a fantastic striker, one of the best in England, and definitely the best striker England have got for the national team.
‘But I know also that, if you’re not 100 per cent fit, it’ll be in your head if you get a bit of a knock or you might get a bit of pain when you pass it. I expected him to play the final, but not at 100. I don’t know if he’ll play tomorrow, but we’ll see.’
The pair will renew their rivalry in Portugal when Holland face England in the Nations League
Four of Tottenham’s heartbroken players – Kane, Dele Alli, Danny Rose and Eric Dier could be involved here in Guimaraes on Thursday.
And Van Dijk, who lost a Champions League final last season against Real Madrid, added: ‘Well, I remember last year when I came back feeling bad, very disappointed for quite a while.
‘It’s not easy to come back from it. If they play, they’ll want to show themselves and try and win the game. We’ll see if they will play.’