SEAN Dyche was delighted to see his former charge Kieran Trippier shining at the World Cup - but admitted he didn't teach him how to take free-kicks.

Trippier capped an outstanding personal tournament with a fifth minute opener in the semi-final against Croatia, curling a fine free-kick into the back of the net in the Luzhniki Stadium.

The evening ended in heartbreak for Trippier and England though, with Croatia fighting back to win 2-1 in extra-time and end the Three Lions' hopes of an appearance in the final this Sunday.

Despite the disappointment Dyche was full of praise for the job Gareth Southgate has done and pleased to see Trippier, who made 185 appearances for Burnley, doing so well on the biggest stage.

"We were having a bit of text banter with a number of people I know in the game, saying ‘I suppose you taught him that’. Obviously I claimed that I did. It’s fair to say I didn’t teach him that," Dyche said of Trippier's fine free-kick.

"But Tripps had a great tournament. His quality has come to the fore.

"They were comparing him with David Beckham, I couldn’t quite see it myself, 6ft 1ins v 5ft 6ins, slightly different look, fashion sense definitely not the same, a completely different position and completely different player, but they can both cross it."

Although he is yet to feature in the tournament Dyche believes Clarets goalkeeper Nick Pope will have benefited from the experience at the end of an incredible year for him, while also praising Tom Heaton's role after he trained with England on standby duty before the squad flew out to Russia.

"He hasn’t quite got on and played but to be around it from where he was a season ago is fantastic," Dyche said of Pope.

"There’s real respect for Tom as well, who even after his injury was thought of well enough to go in the camp at the beginning of this. That shows where he stands in the thinking of the England set-up and his professionalism.

"It’s great for them and to see one of our old players doing well. I’ve had a bit of text banter with Tripps and Popey, so it’s good on many different fronts for Burnley."

England's World Cup journey has enthralled the nation over the last month, with Southgate and his side reconnecting the national team with the country.

Although the campaign ended in disappointment at the last four stage, Dyche believes Southgate has restored a pride in the team.

"I think Gareth has been fantastic in the way he’s handled it and I think his team have," Dyche said of the Three Lions boss.

"The messages he’s sent out have reminded the public of the fact that for all at one point everyone wanted to play like Spain, we have still got an island mentality, and that does bring pride, respect, a bit of honour, work ethic, team spirit, family bonds.

"I think there’s a lot of talk of that with this England side, when I grew up that’s what the England side stood for, the British bulldog mentality. I think Gareth has found a really important and good balance between modern football, which I think they’ve tried to play and execute, and the old British traits to glue it all together.

"I’ve been really impressed by that and the way the country has then bought it into that and backed it. Now it’s about momentum, can we continue this, can that young group mature and go even further? I think they can.

"I think Gareth and his staff have done a great job and they deserve a lot of credit for that. Behind that there is that little niggling feeling that we were so close, but there’s signs that there is more to come from the group and the manager."