Dan Burn gives his verdict after England’s World Cup semi-final exit to Argentina
Distraught former Brighton man Dan Burn said it was a "matter of time" for Argentina to score after the agonising World Cup semi-final collapse against their bitter rivals.
Former Brighton defender Dan Burn reacts after the final whistleplaceholder image
Former Brighton defender Dan Burn reacts after the final whistle | Getty Images
A date with destiny against Spain in Sunday’s showpiece was within touching distance after Anthony Gordon struck early in the second half in Atlanta.
But England paid for retreating rather than pushing to score again, with Thomas Tuchel’s defence-minded decisions after taking the lead welcoming Argentina on and leading to Enzo Fernandez’s late equaliser.
Worse was to follow as Lautaro Martinez headed home Lionel Messi’s cross in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 comeback win that has seen Tuchel’s negative approach panned by fans and pundits alike.
Dan Burn: It hurts
Burn - who was one of the defensive substitutions introduced for Reece James on 82 minutes - said: "It hurts. We nailed the game plan.
"Up until we scored, I thought we did really well. We knew what Argentina were going to do and I thought we dealt with it pretty well.
"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. I felt like it was a matter of time.”
Burn, speaking to Sky Sports, added: "We conceded too many crosses and too many chances.
"I think it's hard because in the previous games we defended those so well.
"To get that close and not do it, it hurts.”
Burn joined Brighton in 2018 and left for his boyhood club Newcastle in 2022. He made three appearances for England during the World Cup.
Tuchel: Nature of the game
Tuchel was asked if he believed he got his decisions wrong, the England boss said: “No, I believe that’s just the nature of the game.
“As soon as you lose, you get criticised. That’s just what it is and get criticised after. No one knows what would have happened if we made different decisions.
“So, it makes no sense to engage in that and lose my head. I’m responsible for them, I took them, so I take the criticism. That’s just the way it is.”
Tuchel admits his side were too “passive” and also “tired” at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where England fell into the kind of negative habits seen in some big occasions under Sir Gareth Southgate.
Their last World Cup semi-final ended in a 2-1 extra-time defeat after taking the lead against Croatia, with England then pegged back by Italy three years later before losing the European Championship final on penalties.
England’s loss in Atlanta means they will face France in Saturday’s third-place play-off in Miami rather than heading to New Jersey for a shot at immortality against Spain.
So close and yet so far
It is another case of being so close and yet so far for a team that Tuchel intends to lead into the home Euros in 2028 despite the backlash to their loss in Georgia.
“First of all, the World Cup is not over,” Tuchel said. “There is still a match to play, that we are not looking forward to so much to but there is still a match to play.
“Of course then we keep on going. I have a contract until the home Euros and I’m looking forward to that even like now it is difficult to look that far ahead.”
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