Dan Burn reveals World Cup final dream after scoring in Newcastle's Carabao Cup triumph

Dan Burn has set his sights on a World Cup final goal for England after living out one childhood dream by scoring at Wembley in Newcastle’s Carabao Cup triumph last year.

The 34-year-old Blyth-born defender opened the scoring with a towering header as Newcastle beat Liverpool 2-1 to end the club’s 70-year wait for a major trophy — a moment that carried particular weight for a lifelong supporter. Now, with England at the World Cup, Burn has allowed himself to imagine an even grander occasion.

“I’ve been lucky in the finals that I’ve played in or in big games, I have managed to score some big goals,” Burn said. “That leads to confidence, knowing that I can if that’s what I’m asked to do. I’ve got the ability and confidence to do that.”

Manager Thomas Tuchel has told Burn he will not be in the starting eleven, but the defender is embracing a squad role. “I want to play and I would love to start,” he acknowledged. “But I also know that there could be a game where we’re one nil up and where we need me to come on and see a game out. Or I might come on if we are chasing the game and need a goal. We’ve been working on all different scenarios.”

Burn was candid about the scale of his ambition, even if he delivered it with a smile. “I’d love for it to be in a World Cup final, a last-minute winner — I would love that more than anything. But we will have to wait and see.”

Off the pitch, England’s squad have been bonding through basketball, backgammon and a game called Werewolf — a social deduction game that Burn admits has grown competitive. “The ‘Werewolf’ game does get heated,” he said. “I have been watching a few of them to work out who the best liars are.”

Burn also pointed to Jude Bellingham as a player capable of lifting the entire squad’s performance level. “You can sense when he is really on it,” he said of the 22-year-old. “He raises the England performance level.” He also highlighted Marcus Rashford and Morgan Rogers as impact options who can change games from the bench.

Reflecting on the tournament atmosphere, Burn drew inspiration from an unlikely source. “Watching Messi rolling back the years — at his age — you realise you are at a tournament with the best players in the world,” he said. “The moments we are away from football really count. Whether it is at baseball or elsewhere, you really learn about people.”