Darren Bent has revealed the heartbreaking moment he discovered he had been omitted from England's 2006 World Cup squad while watching television. The 42-year-old former striker also spoke about being snubbed by Fabio Capello ahead of the 2010 tournament, with the manager later admitting his mistake and offering an apology.
Premier League Stardom but No Major Tournament
Bent scored over 100 Premier League goals during his distinguished career with clubs such as Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, earning 13 caps for England. However, he never represented his country at a major tournament.
Ahead of the 2006 World Cup, Bent netted 22 goals in all competitions for Charlton Athletic and believed he would be part of Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad. But in a cruel twist, he was left out and did not travel to Germany.
Four years later, while playing for Sunderland, Bent scored 24 league goals and finished third in the Premier League Golden Boot race. Yet again, this was insufficient to secure a place in the squad for South Africa. Capello later acknowledged this was an error.
Listening to the Squad Announcement
Speaking on the podcast In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet, Bent recalled the 2006 snub: "All season, not that I'd convinced myself I was going, but I'd got in the England squad after my debut and I'd been in all the squads after."
"Near the end of that season, we played Manchester United away and Alan Curbishley took me off at half-time because he said to me: 'I don't want anything to happen to you because you're gonna be going with England to the World Cup. I want to give you every opportunity to go there and do well, so I'm going to take you off at half-time.' I was like, 'Alright, fair enough.' I'm thinking in my head, 'Has he heard something?' I was preparing myself. Then, I got to my mum's house, sat in the front room, watching the TV, sitting ready for the squad to be announced."
"But it leaked and it was like, 'We're hearing reports that Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent haven't been selected.' I hadn't heard anything yet. I was convinced I was going. My phone started ringing and it's Sven and he was like, 'Listen you've had a great season but unfortunately, I'm not taking you to the World Cup this time.' That was it."
"I remember telling my mum and it hurt. But at the same time, I'd done all I could. The only people that scored more league goals than me that season were [Ruud] van Nistelrooy and Thierry [Henry]."
Lightning Strikes Twice
Four years later, history repeated itself. Bent added: "Because it had happened before, I prepared myself for it. I just thought if it happens again, it happens again. In my head, slightly, I thought it couldn't happen again, though. I'd scored 24 league goals."
"Then Capello phones me, I'm in the exact same spot as well at my mum's house. He goes, 'Hi Darren, I'm not going to take you on this occasion and hopefully see you next season.'"
"But after that World Cup, the very first squad the next season he pulled me into a meeting and said, 'I want to apologise, I made a mistake. I should've taken you to the World Cup.'"
Bent's story highlights the fine margins that can define a footballer's international career, even for prolific Premier League goalscorers. You can listen to brand new episodes of In The Mixer on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
