Where is the best place for World Cup 2018?
I've decided to ignore the Tevez shambles, the allegation that Cesc Fabregas spat at leather-faced Phil Brown's (did anyone else notice the ghastly white-speckled number he was wearing on Saturday) pal Brian Horton and the changes to Formula One to instead focus on another sporting issue of the week - the potential hosts for World Cup 2018.
The bidding has opened and it's time for crackpot Sepp Blatter and his Fifa committee to examine the cases that have been put forward.
So I've taken it upon myself to examine the claims of the nine countries in the hat and give my biased view (well I am a proud Englishman after all):
Australia - The World Cup is the sport's greatest stage of all and therefore must be staged in a football (or soccer) crazy nation, a box that isn't ticked when it comes to Australia. Cricket World Cup - yes, Rugby World Cup - yes, Boomerang Throwing World Cup - yes, Football - no.
England - Gets the thumbs up from me and it will have been a long time coming. The Premier League is dominating the international domestic scene on all fronts so it's about time the nation responsible is given another crack at the World Cup.
Indonesia - The most baffling nominee of all. A country with no history in the World Cup, heck they've only played in the finals once (1938) and even that was as the Dutch East Indies. Each nation's respective domestic league should also be taken into account as a marker of footballing strength and I'd be surprised if anyone outside of The Southeast Asian country could name a team playing in the Liga Indonesia off the top of their head.
Japan - OK they were sharing it with South Korea at the time but they hosted the tournament only seven years ago. Don't be so greedy!
Mexico - If I thought Japan were being greedy then take a look at the gluttonous Mexicans wanting to a host a THIRD World Cup. Move aside please.
Netherlands & Belgium - One of two joint bids and I'm sure they would do a smashing, efficient job. They went hand in hand for Euro 2000 but I don't think they'd be able to whip up the same passion as the big one, unlike us English.
Portugal & Spain - In my view, England's biggest rivals for the 2018 showpiece. Like us, the Spanish have a league and national team to be proud of, the Portugese also have the latter. A destination that would be welcomed by Europeans and South Americans. Yey why not avoid the petty squabbling over where the final might be held and give it to a solo bidder.
Russia - Surely a nation that will host the World Cup at some point in the future but 2018 might still be too soon. Russia has produced some footballing powerhouses of the European game but, apart from Zenit St Petersburg, they all revolve around one city - Moscow. Surely the country is just too vast to whip up the carnival atmosphere that every World Cup needs.
USA - A big no-no. They had it in 1994 but it appeared at the time that no American even knew what the World Cup was let alone if it was being played on their shores. Pele, George Best, Franz Beckenbauer and more-recently David Beckham couldn't even make the American game a success so isn't it time we just gave up on them?
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Andy Walker - Sunday Mercury sports writer
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Mat Kendrick - Sunday Mercury sports writer
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Sorry Andy but England shouldn't get it. I don't think I could stomach any "Football's coming home" sentiment a la Euro 96. Plus, if England doesn't get it, we can hurl well deserved abuse at Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini et al...
Although, it might be the only way England qualifies for the tournament (seeing as many Premiership clubs have given up on developing home grown talent)...so perhaps it should come here! Yeah, I've changed my mind now - let's bring it "home"!
Get the Half Full, Half Empty men to discuss it and send the video to Fifa!
Great debate as always Andrew.
Personally I believe Blatter will give it to the Spain/Portugal bid. Although England with the fantastic arenas around the football made country would be the perfect hosting country, especially with new Wembley built.
We wouldnt need to add any extra stadiums or infrastructure and are ready to go now to host the event.
The only issue being security and the mass riots that would ensue but hey we have 9 years to sort that one out !!!