All fired up: Center-back Burn emerges as unlikely England hero

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The bicycle kick seemed destined for the corner of the net, one last desperate swing from a Mexico side roared on by nearly 90,000 fans at the Azteca Stadium. Instead, a towering figure in white rose above the chaos and headed the ball clear. About 70 yards clear.

Six days later, with England clinging to a lead deep in its 2-1 extra-time quarterfinal win over Norway, Dan Burn hurled himself into Leo Ostigard to meet another high ball, sending it to safety with a ferocious header before stepping over the Norwegian defender and roaring towards the crowd.

In those two moments, the 34-year-old center-back announced himself on the World Cup stage.

Burn had been on the pitch only minutes when he was thrown into the heat of England's last-16 clash with Mexico after Thomas Tuchel's side was reduced to 10 men. By the end of the night he had become a symbol of resistance, repelling Mexico's aerial bombardment as England held on for a dramatic 3-2 victory.

He carried that same bruising, uncompromising presence into Saturday's win over Norway, helping England to see out a tense extra-time battle and book a place in the semifinals.

Through two games, he has nine clearances and two blocks.

Where most World Cup stories begin with wonder kids, Burn's began with rejection.

Released by Newcastle United as a boy, he rebuilt his career through soccer's back roads, playing for Darlington in the lower divisions before earning opportunities at Fulham, Wigan Athletic and Brighton &Hove Albion.

By the time he returned to his boyhood club Newcastle in 2022, few would have imagined England recognition still awaited him.

Fewer still would have predicted that his first World Cup would arrive at the age of 34. "If you'd asked me when I was at Darlington in the (non-league) Conference and League Two whether I'd be here, I probably would have said no," Burn said after arriving in North America with Tuchel's squad. "Especially at this age."

Resilience and persistence

Yet, Burn's age has become part of his appeal. In a sport obsessed with youth, the 6-foot-7 center-back represents something different: resilience, persistence and the possibility that careers do not always have to follow a straight line.

He spent much of the tournament's opening weeks embracing an experience he had once only watched from afar. Burn recalled the 2002 World Cup as one of his earliest football memories, and said simply being part of England's squad felt surreal.

He spoke about celebrating victories with supporters, singing Oasis hit Wonderwall after England's opening win over Croatia and trying to savor every moment of his first major tournament.

Then came Mexico.

England led 3-2, but was hanging on after Jarell Quansah's red card. And, while many supporters may have raised an eyebrow when Tuchel turned to Burn, the German trusted the defender to help preserve the advantage in one of world football's most intimidating arenas.

Burn responded with a commanding cameo, winning aerial duels, clearing danger and helping England to survive a barrage of late pressure.

Burn's no-nonsense defending has also turned him into an unlikely cult hero on social media. One supporter suggested on X that Burn should have his own dramatic walk-on music, complete with light show, when he enters a game.

At 34 years and 58 days, he became the fourth-oldest player ever to make a World Cup debut for the England team.

Ahead of the quarterfinal with Norway, Burn quickly brushed aside the praise generated by the Mexico performance, saying the result would count for little if England failed to progress further.

He welcomed the prospect of another physical duel with Erling Haaland, approaching it with the same understated confidence that has defined his career.

Perhaps that is why Burn's story resonates beyond soccer. At a tournament dominated by global superstars and multimillion-dollar prodigies, here is a player who was told he was not good enough at 11, who spent years traveling the hard way through the English game, and who reached soccer's biggest stage at an age when most international careers have already peaked.

"It's nice, because there's not a straight line to playing and being successful in football," Burn said. "It hopefully gives kids a little bit of inspiration."

REUTERS