England defender Dan Burn has commended his former Newcastle United teammate Anthony Gordon for his influential performances during the current World Cup, highlighting the winger’s growing impact as the tournament progresses.

Gordon, who joined Barcelona for a reported £69.3 million, initially faced a challenging start but has since emerged as a key playmaker for England. Entering the semi-final against Argentina, Gordon had already contributed three assists in the competition. His decisive impact began in the round of 32 in Atlanta, where he set up two goals for captain Harry Kane to overturn a match against DR Congo. He continued to impress in the quarter-final in Miami, providing an assist for Jude Bellingham in England’s victory over Norway. Additionally, Gordon was instrumental in the round of 16 match against Mexico, winning a penalty after a contested challenge on Kane’s flick.

Burn, who played alongside Gordon for three years at Newcastle, praised the winger’s ability to perform under pressure. Speaking ahead of the semi-final, Burn said Gordon consistently rises to the occasion, noting his positive play and ability to challenge opposing full-backs. Burn described his team-mate’s recent form against Norway as particularly impressive.

Despite England’s progress to the last four, Burn acknowledged the squad has yet to reach its full potential. The 6-foot-7 defender expressed confidence in the team’s ability to secure victories through various means but indicated there is room for improvement.

In a separate incident during the quarter-final match against Norway, Burn extended an apology to Norway’s Leo Østigård following a forceful aerial challenge that left the player on the ground in injury time. Reflecting on the moment, Burn said he was focused on the game and only appreciated the impact of his header after reviewing footage post-match. He reached out to Østigård via text to clarify there was no intention to show disrespect, which the Norway defender acknowledged as understandable given the competitive context. Burn emphasized his determination to help England and credited his reaction to being fully engaged in the match.