England's Dan Burn makes Thomas Tuchel look brilliant by setting World Cup record vs. Mexico

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There were a lot of questions when Thomas Tuchel selected Dan Burn for England's World Cup squad.

Burn answered all those questions emphatically on Sunday night in England's 3-2 win over Mexico at the Azteca.

The lanky central defender from Newcastle United might've seemed like a player that Tuchel's side wouldn't need during this tournament.

But reduced to 10 men on Sunday night, Burn helped save England.

Burn came on in the 75th minute and set a World Cup record.

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How well did Dan Burn play?

Burn made six clearances, which was tied for the most in the match, despite having come on in just the 75th minute.

It actually sets a World Cup record for clearances by a player who came on as a substitute:

6 - Despite only coming on in the 75th minute, Dan Burn made the joint most clearances in England's 3-2 win over Mexico (6).

It's the most clearances made by a player subbed on that late into a World Cup game on record since 1966.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 6, 2026

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England knew it would have to withstand a barrage of late crosses and long aerial approaches toward the box.

There are few players in the world who could handle that better than Burn, who wins aerial duals every time he's on the pitch for Newcastle.

Maybe there are other players who could've had Burn's spot who would've helped in other scenarios.

But in this scenario, down a man at the Azteca, Burn was exactly who England needed.