Dan Burn equals World Cup record for clearances
Dan Burn has equalled a 60-year record for the joint-most clearances by a player subbed late on in a World Cup, reports BritPanorama.
The Newcastle defender came on in the 75th minute, playing into the 13th minute of stoppage time, being a towering presence as England hung on for a 3-2 win against Mexico.
Despite only playing 28 minutes, Burn’s total of six clearances tied the record set in 1966. The 34-year-old’s spirited effort helped the Three Lions secure a hard-fought victory in dramatic circumstances.
The defensive display was highlighted by England’s lowest possession in a World Cup game since 1996, having just 33.2 percent of the ball. Their 48 clearances were the most in a World Cup match since 1990, when England made 54 against Belgium. Following Jarrell Quansah’s red card, England shifted to a 5-3-1 formation, with Burn admitting that the game plan went out the window.
He said: “I don’t know if we quite planned for this scenario. I knew that I was being brought here for a certain reason.”
Burn, who started his career playing non-league football, expressed his pride in representing England at this level. “I’m very proud to play for England at a World Cup. I never, ever thought I would be saying that when I first started,” he remarked.
The experience of playing in the packed Azteca Stadium is one of the career highlights for the defender, who noted: “I don’t think I’ll ever forget that night. The atmosphere was crazy. The national anthem of Mexico, I think I was nearly deaf by the end of it.” He added that he believes fans back home were proud of the performance submitted by the team.
Looking ahead, England faces Norway in the quarter-finals of the competition, playing in Miami at 10pm on Saturday. Discussing the upcoming match, Burn stated: “There’s no surprise Norway are at this stage of the competition. They won every game in the qualifiers; they have [Erling] Haaland, who is one of the best strikers in the world, so it is going to be a huge challenge for us, but I just want to enjoy this one.”
With the knockout rounds upon them, every match carries the weight of history and expectation, reminding us that even in football, glory can sometimes hinge on the finest margins.
