Dan Burn jokes about Jude Bellingham's age as he hails midfielder's leadership

Dan Burn heaped praise on Jude Bellingham’s emergence as a genuine leader in the England squad, even joking about the midfielder’s age. England began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, fueled by goals from their two most influential figures.

"I think they’re both leaders of the group playing for top clubs in the peak of their careers," Burn said. "I know Jude’s 12 or whatever, but he’s still there! So he’s still got a long way to go, but it feels like he’s a big player for us. That’s important. I think for any team who have got world-class players, to keep them fit and firing and scoring goals, you need that little bit of luck to get you through the latter stages of the tournament." Bellingham’s display in the opener combined technical elegance with a ferocious work ethic.

"I really feel like Jude’s one of those players where you can really feel when he’s on it. He sort of sets the tone sometimes. If he goes flying into a tackle with three minutes gone, it really gives you that energy," Burn said.

England

dan burn, jude bellingham, england, world cup, 2026, croatia, midfielder, leadership, goals, work ethic