Newcastle United defender Dan Burn has opened up about playing alongside England superstar Jude Bellingham, highlighting the Real Madrid midfielder's often-overlooked contributions after his two goals secured England's World Cup semi-final spot in Miami.
Burn's Praise for Bellingham
Burn, who replaced Bellingham in extra time during England's victory over Norway on Saturday night, was full of admiration for his teammate. Bellingham has scored six goals in the tournament so far, including two crucial ones in the quarter-final.
"Jude is amazing. I've said it before. Jude does a lot of work that goes unnoticed," Burn said. "He creates goals out of nothing, so I'm very happy to have him in our team."
Missed Battle with Haaland
The 6ft 7in defender also commented on the much-anticipated duel with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, which did not materialize as Haaland was substituted before Burn entered the pitch. Burn understood the decision, citing the difficult playing conditions.
"No, I think it was a tough game. The conditions to be honest, I wish that game was indoors because I think you would have seen a lot better game," Burn explained. "With the conditions, I can understand why he went off."
Upcoming Semi-Final Against Argentina
England will face Argentina in the semi-finals, a match that will be played under the roof at the air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Burn expressed relief at the improved conditions and reflected on the tense quarter-final against Norway, where Alexander Sørloth missed a chance to set up Haaland for what would likely have been a 2-0 lead.
"Yeah, stressful. I'd much rather be on the pitch than on the bench because it is stressful, but yeah, I'm just delighted to get on the pitch and help the lads get through," Burn said after the game.
