TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers: match preview Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers at the DW Stadium on Saturday Dec 26 2009, kick-off 15.00 GMT. telegraph.co.uk |
Beckham in Capello's plans England coach Fabio Capello has declared David Beckham will be in his FIFA World Cup squad if the superstar's AC Milan stint is a success. foxsports.com.au |
Togo scathing of tournament organisers Togo defender Thomas Dossevi has launched a scathing attack on African Cup of Nations officials for their insensitivity in handling the terrorist attack on the Togo side in Angola. foxsports.com.au |
Lucas Neill signs with Galatasaray Australia captain Lucas Neill has agreed to an 18-month contract with Turkish club Galatasaray, leaving English Premier League side Everton after less than a season. cbc.ca |
England's World Cup bid hopes boosted • Sepp Blatter reveals plan to host tournament in Europe• Decision could simplify lobbying process between federationsEngland's chances of winning the race to host the 2018 World Cup have been boosted after the Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, suggested that it will be restricted exclusively to European bidders.Blatter, in Madrid to meet with the Spanish prime minister, José Luis RodrÃguez Zapatero, confirmed for the first time that talks were underway to streamline the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments."From what I've discussed with the president of Uefa, Michel Platini, in the last few days in Moscow is that only a European candidate will be evaluated for the 2018 World Cup," Blatter said. "It's still not decided, but it's an idea to help facilitate the work of Fifa and its executive committee."Restricting the competition for 2018 to Europe would leave England's bid team facing three strong rivals in Spain-Portugal, Russia and Holland-Belgium but would simplify a Byzantine lobbying process.It would leave Australia, Japan, the US, South Korea, Indonesia and Qatar competing to host the 2022 tournament. The hosts of both tournaments are to be decided at the same Fifa executive committee meeting in Zurich in December.Many on the various bid teams have privately voiced fears that the open field and sheer volume of bidders will complicate the decision making process and leave it open to manipulation.If the race for the 2018 World Cup is restricted to just four European bidders, it would increase the likelihood of European votes largely cancelling one another out in the opening round and highlight the importance of securing votes from Africa, the Americas and Asia.If anything, the horse-trading could intensify, with federations aiming to secure the 2022 tournament looking to trade votes with European contenders. Australia, Japan and the United States are at present bidding for either 2018 or 2022, while South Korea, Indonesia and Qatar are in the running to host the 2022 tournament only.Blatter was last week in Russia, visiting the prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, in Moscow and attending the CIS and Baltic Cup with Platini.Yesterday he was received by another of England's rivals in Madrid. There has been a degree of confusion over the status of the two European joint bids ever since the process began.Blatter was originally thought to be ill-disposed towards the idea following a series of problems in the run up to the World Cup in Japan and South Korea in 2002. But more recently he is believed to have reassured both Spain-Portugal and Belgium-Holland that their chances will not be harmed and he attempted to clarify his position to Spanish reporters."History has shown that at the European Championships of 2000 [Belgium-Netherlands] and 2008 [Austria-Switzerland] that joint organisation can be a great success," he said.Attention will now turn to Angola, with most bidding nations sending delegations to the country for the final stages of the Africa Cup of Nations and to lobby at the Confederation of African Football congress on Friday.But only Qatar will be able to distribute publicity material or have a public presence at the congress, after agreeing an exclusive deal with organisers to sponsor it. Final bids are due in at the end of May, with Fifa inspection teams expected to visit the various competing nations following this summer's World Cup in South Africa.World Cup 2018Sepp BlatterFifaOwen Gibsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |