I’d had an afternoon nap and tried to squeeze some sleep in beforehand, but despite my efforts, I still must have dropped off very briefly while watching the England game earlier this morning. And I missed a real moment as a result.
Newcastle United’s Dan Burn was subbed on in the 75th minute with England leading 2-3, down to 10 men and firmly under the cosh. Imagine my surprise to only learn of this in about the 78th minute when my eyes snapped back open and I heard his name. Blinking my way into some sort of consciousness I stared at the screen and there he was making a clearance. Dan Burn had finally and firmly arrived at the World Cup.
My immediate thoughts were just the hopes that he didn’t do anything silly and be responsible for conceding an equaliser. But, despite a slight early error when he kind of hung a heel at a cross and missed, he grew into the game. In fact, he adapted really quickly given the conditions and the situation he’d found himself thrown into.
Mexico threw everything they had at England in the last 15 minutes of the 90 and then threw a fair bit more in the 11 added on. At times it felt like every cross was met by Big Dan and every shot blocked by him too. The boy from Blyth was an absolute colossus. In fact, in only 26 minutes on the pitch he made 6 clearances; the joint most on the field. This was also the most clearances made by a player subbed on as late as he was in any World Cup since 1966. Given the fact that these were his first minutes of the whole World Cup, his contributions were absolutely crucial.
There was a header followed by an outstanding block on the left side of our box very late on when I thought we were about to concede an equaliser, but Big Dan was there, throwing his body on the line. Many have mocked his inclusion in the squad, but I bet they were glad of him in those last 26 minutes.
For the lad who once collected trollies in Asda and played for Darlington, Yeovil and Wigan earlier on in his career this was another incredible high in an incredible journey. Next up, it’s Haaland and Norway in Miami on Saturday. Might we see more of Big Dan? I hope so.
As England leave Mexico City, the locals have learnt a crucial lesson. ‘Es de Blyth. Nunca, jamás, superarás a Dan Burn.’
Middle Age Fanclub 