Burn emerges as England's unlikely World Cup warrior

Burn emerges as England's unlikely World Cup warrior through two pivotal moments that defined their knockout run. On July 12 in Kansas City, Missouri, Reuters described how Dan Burn produced emphatic aerial clearances, first surviving Mexico’s pressure with a goal-line clearance after England were reduced to 10 men, then repeating the role in their 2-1 extra-time quarter-final win over Norway. The 34-year-old centre back, listed at 6-foot-7 (2.01 metres), delivered nine clearances and two blocks across two matches. England secured a semi-final berth after managing a tense extra-time battle. His World Cup start came at 34, after a path rebuilt following Newcastle’s decision to release him as a boy.