Fabianski: Colombia have the skill to shred defences

England’s defence could be ripped apart by Colombia’s attacking firepower, according to Lukasz Fabianski, the Poland goalkeeper.

Fabianski watched Colombia’s forward quartet of James Rodriguez, the two Juans, Quintero and Cuadrado, and Radamel Falcao run riot in their 3-0 win over Poland in Kazan and believes England will have a big headache awaiting them in the last-16 tie on Tuesday.

Rodriguez is a doubt for the match in Moscow after sustaining a recurrence of a calf complaint that forced him off just half an hour into the 1-0 win over Senegal. It was the same problem that limited the Bayern Munich forward – on loan from Real Madrid – to a substitute’s appearance in Colombia’s opening group-stage defeat by Japan, when Carlos Sanchez’s dismissal forced Jose Pekerman’s side to play for 87 minutes with 10 men.

Jose Izquierdo, the Brighton & Hove Albion winger, is likely to come in for Rodriguez if Colombia’s talisman does not make it but Fabianski is convinced England would be better off playing Japan. Belgium face the Japanese in Rostovon-don on Monday after beating England to top Group G.

“Colombia are a much better side than Japan, much more dangerous,” said Fabianski, who has recently joined West Ham United from Swansea City for £7 million.

“They lost the first game against Japan but played almost the entire match with 10 men and I think if you look at the qualities, the team to avoid at this stage of the tournament would be Colombia.

“They have so much quality in the midfield, in Cuadrado and James Rodriguez and another smaller guy, Quintero [who scored from a free-kick against Japan].

“They tore us apart, so I think you have to look out when you face them. You have to try to make sure they don’t get a grip on the game.”

Fabianski believes England could be in trouble if Colombia score first and Gareth Southgate’s team are forced to push for an equaliser, which could leave space for their opponents to exploit. Poland fell behind after 40 minutes to Colombia and ended up being picked off, with Falcao and Cuadrado adding to Yerry Mina’s opener.

“In games like this on the big stage, things are often quite even until the first goal. Then you have to change,” he said. “One team has to go for it and the other team feels more confident. That’s what happened in our game with Colombia.”