Newcastle United star Dan Burn is not yet feeling the full intensity of the World Cup, but he is determined to achieve a milestone that has so far eluded him in an England shirt: scoring his first international goal on the grandest stage. The defender, who came on as a half-time substitute during England's 1-0 friendly victory over New Zealand on Saturday, admitted that while the occasion has not fully sunk in, the match helped him get into the right mindset.
Burn's Journey from Lower Leagues to World Cup Stage
Burn's rise from lower-league football to representing England at a World Cup is a remarkable story. However, he acknowledges that the reality of the tournament has yet to fully register. The friendly against New Zealand served as a valuable training exercise, with England now set to intensify their preparations for the World Cup campaign. Burn stated, "It doesn't feel like the World Cup yet, but coming in and seeing the fans, the hype of it all and getting excited about it, so, yeah, I was happy with how it went. I think we dealt with the heat pretty well, got a win and a clean sheet. We can build on that." He added that the match was about refreshing the principles that worked well in October and November, and while it was not a spectacular performance, the team showed glimpses of their training ground work.
Set-Piece Scrutiny and Burn's Goal Ambitions
England manager Thomas Tuchel has expressed dissatisfaction with FIFA using England's goal against Uruguay in March as an example of prohibited penalty box grappling. Burn, however, is ready for the increased scrutiny and is focused on improving his own set-piece contributions. Having scored crucial goals for Newcastle, including the opener in the Carabao Cup final, Burn is yet to find the net for his country. He said, "We know there is going to be a bit more scrutiny on it, but we haven't spoken about it in detail. As I said, I am sure when we get to Kansas there will be things where we have to sit down with referees and see what is allowed and what isn't." Reflecting on his performance against New Zealand, he added, "I had a few headers against New Zealand and definitely should have scored one, so I was disappointed with the one that hit the post, but I'm just trying to get that first goal."
Family Holiday Gives Burn a Head Start on Heat Acclimatisation
Burn's preparation for the World Cup included a family trip to Disneyworld in Florida, a suggestion from Tuchel to help players adjust to the time zone and hot weather conditions. Burn explained, "I didn't notice the heat that much [against New Zealand], if I am being honest. I have been here a week before, I did Disney with the kids because I wanted to get a bit of a head start. Honestly, I think that helped. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't like a Saturday afternoon in Newcastle, but I felt a lot better than I was expecting to." He noted that about half the squad took similar measures, and while the weather in England has been cloudy and rainy, the last two days brought some heat. Burn said, "Personally, it hasn't affected me as much as I thought it would, but I can't speak for anyone else." When asked about his favourite part of the Disney experience, he enthusiastically replied, "The rides! My kids loved the rides. Guardians of the Galaxy is the best ride. If you go to Disney, that's the one."
