England 2018 determined to woo Blatter

By Andrew Warshaw at Wembley Stadium

May 10 – England’s 2018 World Cup campaign will undergo a major charm offensive by inviting FIFA President Sepp Blatter to the country after this summer’s tournament in South Africa.

Blatter has long had a frosty relationship with the English media and recently praised Russia’s rival 2018 bid as “fantastic”.

English bid officials, having met all 24 voting members of FIFA’s Executive Committee, privately believe there is still work to do to persuade Blatter personally to support them and that a visit by the FIFA President would constitute a major public relations exercise.

Friday (May 14) marks the most important stage so far in the process for 2018 and 2022, with the nine contenders formally handing over their respective bid books at FIFA headquarters in Zurich.

Speaking at the high-profile departure of England’s monster dossier, FA and bid chairman Lord Triesman said every effort would be made to organise a face-to-face meeting between Blatter and whoever is Prime Minister once the World Cup in South Africa is over.

“It’s perfectly possible to believe that we can convince him that ours is the right destination for the World Cup,” said Triesman.

“I’m hoping we can get him here.

“However great you think football is in your country, you have to earn this competition.

“You should never assume you are entitled to the World Cup.”

If big is beautiful, England should have nothing to fear from the other five candidates specifically targeting 2018.

Their 1,700-page bid book, containing 20 technical criteria from financial guarantees to venues and legacy, is over twice as long as that of Australia and 600 pages more than Russia’s contribution.

With doubts recently expressed about Brazil’s readiness in 2014, following on from a security-conscious tournament in South Africa, Triesman and his team are hoping FIFA will take the safe option.

“Ours a big document but it meets FIFA’s criteria and the material from the cities is spectacular,” said Triesman.

“Commercially this would be a very sensible place to have the World Cup.

“Other candidates are putting their best foot forward but I am not other than optimistic.”

David Beckham will personally hand over England’s dossier on Friday, flying from Los Angeles to Switzerland.

“If David suddenly appeared in any village on the planet, everyone would know who he was,” said Triesman.

“It’s a football festival we are bidding for and it should be led by perhaps the most iconic footballer in the world.

“It’s fantastic news that David’s schedule has enabled him to present our bid in Zurich.

“He is a global role model.”

The handover of the bid books will be followed by inspection visits between July and September, with the final vote by FIFA’s Executive Committee on December 2.

Wembley is the centre-point of England’s bid and Triesman promised the much-maligned and constantly relaid pitch would not adversely affect England’s chances.

With the eyes of the world on Saturday’s FA Cup Final - all 24 FIFA Executive Committee members have been invited – Triesman said: ”We will go back to having a first-class pitch.

“One way or another it slipped backwards.

“We shouldn’t have let this happen and we will have an exceptional pitch.”

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