Soccer
Why Dan Burn should start for England in battle with Norway's Erling Haaland
FIFA+: World Cup archive & programmes FREE on DAZN
Thomas Tuchel's England squad selection caused uproar, but the longer the Three Lions remain in the World Cup, the fewer complaints there can be.
Dan Burn's selection was one of the key talking points, particularly as it meant experienced tournament centre-back Harry Maguire was left at home in his place.
The Newcastle United defender made his World Cup debut as a late substitute against co-hosts Mexico when England were up against a barrage of crosses, and the 34-year-old quite literally rose to the occasion.
Up next is a tough battle against Norway and their lethal frontman Erling Haaland, and given his aerial ability, should Burn start in the quarter-final clash?
Dan Burn has impressive record against Erling Haaland
With England down to 10 men, they would need to be at their defensive best, and Tuchel's decision to bring on John Stones, Djed Spence and Burn worked wonders.
The Newcastle man made a 15-minute cameo at the Estadio Azteca, making eight defensive contributions, including six clearances (four of them headed) and two blocks.
It must be noted that Mexico's attack does not possess the same quality as Norway's, but halting an in-form Raul Jimenez from open play on home soil is no easy feat.
A day earlier, Haaland, who endured substantial periods without the ball, popped up when it mattered, scoring a header and a superb long-range effort to stun five-time champions Brazil.
Stopping the 6ft' 5 powerhouse is going to be a tough task, but in Burn, the Three Lions possess a man who has thwarted the striker on a regular basis.
In 10 appearances against the Magpies, Haaland has found the back of the net just once, and the 6ft' 7 defender's physicality could prove a decisive factor on Saturday night.
Getty Images
Burn can be remedy for Haaland's aerial ability
Haaland has scored in every single game at this World Cup, tallying seven in total, which is some achievement considering he was rested against France in the group stage.
Two of his goals have come from his head, one against Iraq and one against Brazil, but his underlying numbers outline just how dominant he can be in the air.
The striker has won 14 of his 18 aerial duels at the tournament with a success rate of 77.78 per cent, while he won all his aerial duels against Iraq and Brazil, the two teams he scored headers against.
What the data suggests is that if the Norwegian dominates the aerial battles, then he will likely find the back of the net, which is why Burn can be pivotal.
The 34-year-old won his only aerial duel against Mexico, and delving into his Premier League numbers, it is clear that he could be the man to disrupt Haaland.
Getty Images
Last season, neither Newcastle nor Burn enjoyed their best performances, but the campaign prior, no central defender won more aerial duels than his 148 in the Premier League.
Of course, there is a counterargument to him being given the nod, as he may struggle to keep up with the pace of the game, and the fact that he has played just 15 minutes means he is inexperienced at this level.
The last thing England would want is to see Burn and Haaland in a one-on-one situation, as the Norwegian's turn of pace could tie up the 34-year-old in knots.
In reality, Tuchel has opted to pair Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi together for the last four matches, while John Stones may also be ahead of him in the pecking order, and he is a man who knows Haaland better than most.
However, with Guehi now a doubt, England's manager could be forced into a change that he would rather not make.
Whoever the German decides to start, he has an appealing option in Burn, and it would be unsurprising if the Blyth-born man was utilised at some point of the contest.
Watch the world's best football on DAZN
After the World Cup is over, there is so much great football still to watch on DAZN.
Premier League: All English top flight matches live and in full in Canada
Serie A: Watch all 380 matches of the Italian league live in the UK and Canada. Also in the US in Spanish language
Champions League: Watch every match of the 2026/27 campaign in Canada. Three matches per round exclusively in the US, in Spanish language
National League: DAZN is the home of the National League, with every game available either live or on-demand, plus selected North and South matches
FIFA+ on DAZN: Watch over 7,000 live matches a year, plus World Cup archive, iconic documentaries, films, and player profiles for FREE
More details and to subscribe to a DAZN football package, click here
