Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane snubbed from World Cup XI as Darren Bent names his team of the tournament
Darren Bent has named his World Cup team of the tournament ahead of Sunday’s final.
However, there is no room in the XI for England heroes Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane.
Between them, the pair have scored 12 of the Three Lions’ 14 goals so far at the tournament.
Bent has instead snubbed them for a pair of Premier League stars after naming a side which features no less than five Spain players.
The talkSPORT co-host did admit, though, that an argument could be made for Bellingham to make the team.
Here is Bent’s World Cup team of the tournament.
GK – Vozinha, Cape Verde
Despite conceding just one goal in seven matches, Spain’s Unai Simon misses out in goal to Cape Verde stopper Vozinha.
Defending the choice, Bent told Andy Goldstein on Drive: “In goal, now Unai Simon, who is the Spain goalkeeper, I was going to put him in. He’s conceded one goal.”
Meanwhile, Vozinha himself kept clean sheets against both Spain and Saudi Arabia during the group stage as Cape Verde reached the last 32.
His heroics have seen the 40-year-old’s Instagram follower count sky-rocket to 29.3million.
Bent added: “I think sometimes you’ve got to mix it up. I think Vozinha from Cape Verde deserves a lot, he’s been brilliant.”
He continued: “The reason why I put Vozinha in is because Unai Simon is playing behind the stingiest back four at the tournament. They just don’t give up chances.
“Whereas Vozinha, when Cape Verde came into this tournament, everyone thought they were going to be the whipping boys. So I’ve gone Vozinha in goal.”
RB – Pedro Porro, Spain
Although Simon did not make the cut, five of his Spain team-mates did, starting with Pedro Porro at right-back.
The Tottenham Hotspur defender scored his side’s second goal in their semi-final win over France as part of a man of the match display.
Bent hailed his performances, explaining: “Someone who’s put in a performance in this tournament that I didn’t think had it in them, Pedro Porro.
“His performances this tournament, when he started the tournament I was a bit like ‘is he the right man, really?’
“He has been absolutely outstanding for Spain, he scored a great goal against France as well, but what has impressed me the most about him is he’s getting close to people, he’s getting tight to people, he can play, he’s comfortable in possession.
“Sometimes when you play with better players, and this is no disrespect to Spurs, when you play with players who are a level above, you raise your game and that’s what Pedro Porro has done.”
CB – Aymeric Laporte & Pau Cubarsi, Spain
With six clean sheets in seven matches so far, Bent stuck with Spain as he selected central defenders Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi.
Only Belgium have scored against the European champions at this summer’s World Cup.
Bent was particularly full of praise for Cubarsi, with the teenager playing at his first major tournament.
He admitted: “Cubarsi, unbelievable for Barcelona last season. He has been incredible and I’ve gone Spain back four.”
LB – Marc Cucurella, Spain
The trend continued at left-back with new Real Madrid signing Marc Cucurella chosen by Bent.
Prior to the tournament, he completed a return to Spain from Chelsea for an initial £47.5million.
Meanwhile, he has been ‘absolutely incredible’ for his country in North America, says Bent.
As for whether Chelsea fans will now be disappointed to have lost Cucurella, he explained: “I don’t think they will be because he was so active about wanting to go to Real Madrid and wanting to leave, I think Chelsea fans in the end were a little bit like, ‘well, go then’.
“He has been brilliant this tournament, but I’ll never understand a club that wants to keep a player who doesn’t want to be there because you’ll never get that player back.”
CM – Rodri, Spain
Having already been named player of the match against Portugal in the last 16, Rodri produced another dominant midfield performance against France in the semi-finals.
The midfielder has once again shown the form which won him the Ballon d’Or two years ago, this time as Spain captain.
Following a pair of injury hit seasons, Bent has not hold back with his assessment of the Manchester City man.
He revealed: “He has been back to his best. The way he moves, keeps possession and his role in that game against France, I thought he was probably the best player on the pitch.”
CM – Enzo Fernandez, Argentina
Whilst Rodri’s place in the side came as no surprise, Bent admitted he snubbed Bellingham in favour of including Enzo Fernandez in midfield.
The Argentina man scored his side’s equaliser against the Three Lions in the last four.
It marked his second goal in six appearances for the defending champions this summer.
Discussing Fernandez’s form, Bent said: “I’ve got to put him in there, I know it’s a tough one, but Enzo Fernandez. He’s been brilliant. Chelsea fans again (will be surprised).
“I think he’s had moments (for Chelsea), but you’ve got to give credit where credit is due and he has been incredible this tournament.
“A couple of goals as well. Energy, the high press, making things happen.”
As for not picking Bellingham, he added: “I was close to putting him in but I think Enzo Fernandez, what he did in the semi-final against England. I’ve got no argument (against) you putting Jude in.”
RW – Michael Olise, France
Whilst England are not represented, Michael Olise is one of two players from their third-place play-off opponents to make the cut.
The France winger has provided six assists in seven matches despite an off night against Spain in their semi-final exit.
Bent believes that match should not be used to discount the rest of Olise’s performances at the World Cup.
He explained: “He had one bad game against Spain, before that he was incredible.
“This is the team of the tournament, not the team of the one game.”
AM – Lionel Messi, Argentina
Lionel Messi’s inclusion comes as no surprise with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner leading the race for the golden boot.
The 39-year-old has scored eight goals and provided four assists in seven matches this summer.
He could still add to that tally as well as winning a second successive World Cup against Spain in Sunday’s final.
Giving his reaction to Messi’s tournament, Bent said: “In the No.10, the best player on the planet still, Lionel Messi.
“Eight goals, golden boot at the minute, 25 chances created. Let that sink in. Just this World Cup. Eight big chances created.”
LW – Kylian Mbappe, France
Messi could still be overtaken in the scoring charts, though, with Kylian Mbappe only trailing him due to their number of assists.
The France captain has also scored eight goals so far having helped his side reach the last four.
Despite facing criticism following their defeat to Spain, Bent has defended the 2018 World Cup winner.
He admitted: “He has been, up until the semi-final, frightening.
“He’s taken a lot of flak, a lot of heat, I think it’s been unjustified because it’s almost like they were waiting for him to fail. One game and there was a pile-on.”
ST – Erling Haaland, Norway
Meanwhile, Kane is kept out of the side by Norway striker Erling Haaland.
The Manchester City star scored seven of their 13 goals as his nation reached the quarter-finals before an extra-time loss to England.
Haaland was named player of the match in three of his five appearances during the World Cup as Norway made their first appearance since 1998.
Defending his inclusion, Bent said: “Could have been Kane, but I’ve gone Erling Haaland.
“The reason why I’ve gone Erling Haaland, other than the England game he scored in every single game of this World Cup. He dragged Norway (to the quarter-finals).
“No disrespect to Norway, but a lot of people would have said they had no right getting that far and Haaland was a key component of that.”
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