[Saba Sports News] According to a report by The Sun, England defender Dan Burn took time off to visit Disneyland while preparing for the World Cup. Earlier, England head coach Thomas Tuchel suggested that players spend some time in the United States ahead of the tournament to get used to the intense heat, as temperatures will soar well above 30 degrees Celsius. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami is expected to be the hottest venue among all host stadiums across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The 34-year-old Burn therefore decided to stay in Florida to acclimatise. He also took the chance to take photos with Disney characters including Goofy. Burn said spending hours walking around in the Florida sunshine helped him feel comfortable during his 45-minute appearance in the friendly against New Zealand. England claimed a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Harry Kane just before half-time. Burn was among the 11 players who came on as substitutes in the second half.
Marcus Rashford also chose Florida for his summer break and kept fit by training at Inter Miami’s facilities. Several other England players stayed in the US or the Caribbean before the World Cup to adjust their body clocks to the local time zone.
In my view, this arrangement fully complies with the team’s preparation plans. It helps players adapt to the local climate and relax both physically and mentally. It is not an inappropriate leisure activity, nor does it disrupt the training schedule, making it a reasonable and personalised adjustment for World Cup preparations.