Breaking news - England wins right to host World Cup!

[kandr]

Even with home advantage in 66, England still needed a good batch of world-class players to win it. I'm not sure any of the current England team would make it into the Brazil or Spain sides. Perhaps 2 would be on the subs bench.
Anyway France are my tip for 2018.

I think there are 4-5 world class players in England right now. But they are not English.

[shaunbhoy]

Rooney will be the wrong side of 30, as will Gerrard and Lampard. It is highly debatable whether or not any of those are "World Class" in any case.
To be fair, it is highly likely that any players that truly will be World Class and English (assuming any come along of course) will not even have been heard of yet.
Worth winning the bid anyway though. Drag a lot of cash back into the country. The top EPL teams will, of course, cream most of this off in order to service the obscene wage bills of their overhyped primadonnas, but there may be a few quid left for upgrading the Prawn sandwiches.

[Clippy]

It's not coming home.

[cailin maith]

Oh dear.

[Pondlife]

By Chris Bevan

1530: I am hearing that England were knocked out in the first round of voting, which is why they already know they have been eliminated. All unconfirmed at the moment, but they are coming from a source close to the bid team.

[Alf W]

Not even in the final two if latest rumour is true. F*** 'em and their dodgy, bribing European ways.

[AtW]

[Pondlife]

Here is Fifa president Sepp Blatter, with the envelope of truth.

Duh duh duuuh

[Alf W]

Here is Fifa president Sepp Blatter, with the envelope of cash.

Duh duh duuuh

Russia!

[cailin maith]

Russia!