By Andrew Warshaw
November 26 – The Holland/Belgium 2018 World Cup team today announced a heavyweight delegation to take to Zurich for the December 2 announcement, headed by bid President Ruud Gullit and the country’s most iconic footballing figure, Johan Cruyff (pictured).
The pair will be joined by Jean-Marie Pfaff, Guus Hiddink, Paul Van Himst, and both Prime Ministers, Yves Leterme and Mark Rutte.
“We have put together a very strong team in which footballers and world renowned coaches take the lead and have the support of the highest government officials and football association directors,” said bid chief executive officer Harry Been.
The Dutch/Belgian team will be the first 2018 candidate to make its final 30-minute presentation, 24 hours after 2022 contenders present theirs to members of the FIFA Executive Committee.
Altogether the delegation comprises 40 current and ex-footballers, coaches, government officials, football association directors and bid partners.
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