Dan Burn believes England must build a strong brotherhood, similar to Argentina, if World Cup success is to follow their impressive qualifiers and high expectations. With England seen as major contenders, Burn argues that unity off the pitch could be as important as tactics or individual talent once the tournament begins.
England enter the World Cup with serious backing from data and form. The Opta supercomputer rates their chances at 11.2%, behind only Spain on 16.1% and France on 13%. The Three Lions also completed qualifying with eight wins from eight, and they did not concede a single goal across those matches.
Thomas Tuchel has highlighted a need for deeper bonds in the squad, stressing relationships alongside strategy. Jude Bellingham also
suggested the Euro 2024 run to the final lacked a true connection. Those reflections have shaped preparations, with senior figures pushing for a closer environment before England face Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday.
Burn explained that this theme has dominated recent gatherings under Tuchel. "Obviously, it's hard for me to comment on what went on when I wasn't here [in Euro 2024], he said. But we've made a big thing about that since the very first camp we had together, about having this brotherhood and being together. I feel like a lot of the time, the team that end up winning tournaments like these are the teams who are close. "
Argentina’s triumph at the last World Cup is a key reference point for Burn and team-mates. "If you look at Argentina at the last World Cup, you felt as if they were really fighting for each other. That's what we're wanting to do. I think it's hard sometimes, you don't see each other for a long amount of time, and you have quite superficial conversations. It's normally just like, 'hi, how are you?' But it's about trying to get to know each other on a deeper level. "
Burn accepts that national team camps can feel temporary, with players arriving from different clubs and leagues. However, England have tried to change habits by spending more time together away from training. The goal is to move conversations beyond small talk, which Burn believes can lead to greater trust when pressure rises during knockout matches.
Tuchel handed Burn a first England call-up in March 2025, and the defender has collected nine caps since then. The role in this World Cup squad is still uncertain, yet Burn is clear that the mentality must place the group above personal status. That view is especially relevant in a squad packed with club stars.
"Personally, for me, I just want to be here and help the team however possible that is:whether I start, whether I come on, whether I don't play a minute, I'll not feel I have contributed any less than anyone else, he said. I think that's important. I feel like this is the type of tournament where we have players who are the stars for their clubs normally, and they're going to have to take a little bit of a different role. That's leaning into that brotherhood thing again, where we are just happy for each other and happy to help out as much as we can. "
The latest England camp has included intense sessions and time together in the United States, as shown by training in Kansas City before moving to Dallas.Burn hopes that shared work and daily routines will help England translate a strong qualifying base and favourable probabilities into a united World Cup challenge.Down to work in KC pic.twitter.com/kbzDP1WH8wEngland (@England) June 13, 2026
