Burn: 'Gutted' but proud of England in World Cup
Dan Burn addresses the media after England's loss against Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semifinal.
Video Transcript
Also, you know, how important it is to come here and win que, que combatir, que sufrir, pero sobre todo jugar al ftbol.
Felicitaciones y cmo analiza este equipo espectacular.
Qu le puede decir a su familia y vos vivo en Buenos Aires, no?
That's the last thing you needed.
England you worked so hard to get the lead in a very difficult game.
It was very physical.
A lot of stuff wasn't going your way.
When you ma- when you take the lead, how big a blow is it to, to lose it that late on?
Yeah, it was gut-- And I think when you come within sort of ten, fifteen minutes of a World Cup final and then don't get it done, it hurts.
I thought that we nailed the game plan, up until we scored.
I thought we did really well.
We knew what Argentina were gonna do, and I thought we dealt with it pretty well.
Yeah, and we got a little bit passive after the goal, defended probably a little bit too deep.
And the quality of chances that Argentina were creating, yeah, I thought it was a-- felt like it was a matter of time.
I think it was-- we conceded too many crosses and too many chances, and I think it's hard because in the previous games we've defended those so well.
But yeah, to, to get that close and not do it, it's, yeah, very upsetting.
All right, Dan.
I know it's probably a bit raw right now, but, how proud are you?
In fact, how has this experience been for you for your first World Cup?
I know not the ending you wanted, but how's it been?
Yeah.
No, obviously, I'm very gutted right now, but I'm so proud of what the team's done.
I don't really think anyone gave us a chance coming into this.
Our brotherhood that we've spoken about, I think this took w-- a long way.
And honestly, when I found out we'd be coming here, I thought we were gonna do it.
I just had that feeling that this was the, this was our time.
But I think Argentina showed why they're sort of world champions.
They've been there and they've done it.
Yeah, and that's seen them through in the end.
Hi, Dan.
Commiserations.
I just wanted to ask you a little bit about what the boss said to you when, you were coming on, what the game plan was at, at that, at that point.
Yeah, well, we were already in a back five, so I didn't need that much instruction, if I was honest.
I knew why I was coming on to, defend crosses, and make sure they didn't take chances.
But just the way it worked out, I didn't really get a chance to defend everything.
Everything seemed to come in from my side.
So yeah, was gutted.
Obviously went up front for the last sort of, five, ten minutes to create something, but yeah, nothing seemed to fall for it.
And as I said, I think Argentina showed why they're sort of the reigning champions.
Hi, Dan.
Thomas is, already getting a fair bit of criticism for the game plan the last twenty or so minutes.
What, what your view on, that?
Was it too defensive in the end?
No.
Listen, I think he'd done that in the last few games, and we'd seen it out well, so I don't think that we're, if I'm conceded massive criticism going into that.
I think when we're in four-four-two defending, we weren't conceding a lot of chances, so something had to change.
And as I said, we'd been pretty solid when we went to a back five, in the previous few games.
So yeah, I think the, the manager may want to have done something in, in hindsight, but also from the players that we've got to take responsibility to, to get us through sort of being ten, fifteen minutes away from a World Cup finals, we really probably should have seen that out.
Dan, over here.
In terms of this situation, some fans would say it'd be quite similar to the semifinal against Croatia in the World Cup and then the final against Italy.
I mean, Harry's talked about it, just that final piece is missing.
Can you put your finger on what would have been different about today and what you could have done differently?
No.
Tough question to answer for, for me right now.
I think, yeah, the difference for me is that I feel like Argentina have been there, done that, and have the confidence that they were gonna do it.
I have to say that before I genuinely thought we were gonna do it the whole time.
Even when I entered the pitch, I was confident that we could do it.
But I think when you get this level of football, it's very, very fine margins.
I know it's an easy thing to say, but it is, fine margins.
And yeah, and they, they took their two chances, I suppose.
Dan, well done on a, a great tournament, and I'm really sorry to see how it ended.
Could you just give us a bit of insight on the, dressing room afterwards?
Was it more in shock, or was there raw emotion and tears and, and some very upset people?
A bit of both, really.
Honestly, I was in shock at the end.
I didn't really have a lot of emotion.
I still feel pretty numb about it.
Yeah, like I said, I'll say it again.
When you come within fifteen minutes of a, of a World Cup final, one-nil up, I was so confident that we were gonna see that out.
So yeah, there was a, there was a mixture of both.
There was obviously people upset there.
Not a lot's been said.
So yeah, it's probably something we'll digest over the next few days.
Meghan almost up to his, in the end.
Can you say a little bit how difficult is it to stop him and have him as an opponent in a match like this?
Yeah, for the majority, I thought we did pretty well, but I think that probably shows you the quality of player he is, where you can keep him quiet for most of the game, and he still pops up with two assists.
So, yeah, I was pretty happy with how we, how we dealt with him and Argentina on the whole.
But as I said, once we scored, yeah, we probably dropped a little bit too deep and a bit too passive, and it cost us.
