Dan Burn is having the time of his life at this World Cup, but don't let his cowboy hat and boots fool you – he's still got his eyes firmly on the prize. The 34-year-old veteran defender has been making the most of his downtime in America, immersing himself in all things US culture. And why not? After watching England's previous World Cups from an Airbnb in Newcastle, this is Burn's one and only chance to experience it for real.
Burn joined Harry Kane and Djed Spence at a Kansas City Royals baseball game against the St Louis Cardinals – a cracking match that saw England manager Thomas Tuchel take part in the ceremonial first pitch. But Dan wasn't done yet; he took his love of American culture to the next level by attending an Ella Langley country music concert, kitted out in full cowboy gear alongside teammate Jason Steele.
"If you're going to do it, do it properly," Burn laughed about his sartorial choice. And speaking of proper, Harry Kane's got a secret talent – he's a country music fan! The skipper's even curated the team's hotel record player with some foot-stomping tunes.
Despite all the fun and games, Dan remains laser-focused on his job within the squad. Manager Thomas Tuchel has been upfront with him about his role: unlikely to be a regular starter, but crucial in specific scenarios – particularly if England need a set-piece goal. Burn's good humour and realistic outlook have earned him high praise from the coaching staff.
And there's one person who knows Dan like no other – assistant coach Anthony Barry, with whom he worked at Wigan. "There's no beating about the bush," Burn says of their clear communication. "Baz and the manager keep it straight down the middle." With a World Cup winner's medal already on his mind (remember that Carabao Cup-winning goal for Newcastle?), Burn is hungry to make an impact – even if it's a dramatic last-minute winner in the final.