Darren Bent had named his all-time World Cup XI ahead of this summer’s tournament, selecting an attacking-heavy side full of Brazilian talent.
The former England international, who netted four times in 13 caps for his country, spoke exclusively to Daily Mail Sport at TOCA Social, with the biggest show in football now just weeks away.
Bent picked who he thinks are the greatest players ever to play in the World Cup, forming a very attacking side in a 4-2-2-2 formation. He picked a distinct lack of midfielders, opting to squeeze in as many attackers as he could into the side.
Goalkeeper is one of the toughest positions to pick on the pitch in this challenge, but there was no hesitation from Bent as he went with 2014 World Cup-winning shot-stopper, Manuel Neuer of Germany.
‘Incredible 2014 World Cup win,’ Bent tells Daily Mail Sport. Longevity as well, going to be in the squad for this one, although he retired after the last Euros. Manuel Neuer, for me, the greatest goalkeeper ever.’
When it comes to the backline, Bent selected two mainstays in almost every person’s World Cup XI. He has two-time winner Cafu in the team at right-back, and legendary centre-back Franz Beckenbauer.
Former England striker Darren Bent has told Daily Mail Sport his all-time World Cup XI
On the opposite side to Cafu is compatriot Roberto Carlos, whom Bent says had ‘everything as a modern-day full-back’ and was a defender who ‘was ahead of his time’.
But perhaps his most debatable selection among the back four came in the form of Fabio Cannavaro, who guided Italy to the latest of their four World Cup triumphs in 2006.
Bent adds: ‘When you think of Italian defenders, he [Cannavaro] sometimes goes under the radar with Nesta, Maldini, Baresi.
‘But Cannavaro for me, winning the Ballon d’Or at centre-back, I think you have to put someone in the conversation when they do that.’
The midfield is when the formation starts to get interesting, as Bent does all he can to shoehorn as much attacking talent as he can into his side.
He opts for a two-man midfield pivot, but not your typical one. It doesn’t include your typical box-to-box or holding player, but rather two of the most elegant and attacking stars this game has ever seen.
Diego Maradona, who almost single-handedly won Argentina the 1986 World Cup, makes it into the midfield because, as Bent explains, ‘you can’t have a World Cup team without Diego Maradona in it’.
Alongside El Pibe de Oro, translated to Golden Boy in Spanish, is the 1998 winner and France legend Zinedine Zidane.
‘Until Lionel Messi came along, Zidane was the greatest player that ever lived, for me,’ Bent says.
‘The ’98 performance in the final, and not only the ’98 performance, but when he came back in 2006 after retiring from the national team, they convinced him to come back, and he was absolutely outstanding.
Bent has included four of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup winning team in the side
‘We know what happened in the final with the headbutt but his performance against Brazil in the semi-final and then the panenka in the final, absolutely sensational.’
In front of those two magicians of the game are two more, this time in the form of two Barcelona legends. Lionel Messi is, according to many, including Bent, the greatest player of all-time. Meanwhile, his predecessor in Catalonia, Ronaldinho, is the Englishman’s choice on the other side.
‘When I watch football, this is how I want to see football being played. That’s Ronaldinho,’ Bent continues.
‘Some people might say that there are other players with better accolades than him; maybe his longevity wasn’t quite there, but for the four years he was at the top.
‘From about 2002 to 2006, I don’t think I have ever seen a player do what he can do with a football. In terms of the way his body would go past people. I absolutely love Ronaldinho.’
Finishing off the line-up are two of the most legendary strikers this sport has ever seen: Pele and Ronaldo, otherwise referred to as R9.
Their inclusion brings the number of Brazilians in this side to five, which is the same number of World Cups the nation has won, also a record.
Three of those came with Pele leading the line, with the great striker netting 12 goals in just 14 appearances in the tournament. The other two had Ronaldo at the top of the team, and ‘O Fenomeno’ managed to net three more World Cup goals than his idol.
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