Burn texts Norway defender to apologise after viral step-over fuels England's World Cup semi-final run

Dan Burn sent a personal apology to Norway defender Leo Ostigard after footage of the Newcastle centre-back stepping over his former Brighton team-mate following a late aerial duel in Miami went viral during England’s World Cup campaign.

Burn, who has become a cult figure within the England squad following back-to-back influential cameos that helped secure a semi-final berth, admitted he only grasped the full impact of the moment after watching it back.

“I was in a bit of my own world, to be honest,” Burn explained. “I’ve seen the video back and I used to play with Leo, the guy who I end up clattering with the header. I didn’t really know what I’d done in the moment. I watched back and I thought, ‘Oh, it’s not great,’ so I texted Leo after and just said, ‘Mate, I didn’t mean to be disrespectful. I was just like fired up,’ and he was like, ‘Yeah, I get that, it’s no problem.’”

The 34-year-old was characteristically understated when asked about the surge in attention that followed, including his Instagram following approaching 500,000. “No, not really. I’m not massive on social media, so I don’t see loads of it, but I’ve had lots of people sending us different videos,” he said. “For me, it’s just trying to help the lads out as much as possible, and trying to make an impact on the pitch.”

Burn will now hope to make that impact against Argentina in the semi-final — opponents who carry a particular personal resonance. The defender was ten years old and watching from a bar in Orlando when David Beckham converted the decisive penalty against Argentina in Sapporo at the 2002 World Cup.

“I know exactly where I was — I was in a bar called the Cricketers Arms in Orlando because we were on holiday, and it must have been on quite late because I think it was just me and my dad,” Burn recalled. “I remember when the penalty went in, just like the roar from inside. I think that was the sort of time when I fell in love with football.”

Beckham, now watching from the stands rather than the pitch, is among those captivated by Burn’s contributions at this tournament — a detail that left the normally composed defender visibly starstruck.