Civilizations have not crumbled and the earth remains on its axis. The most telling phrase I've heard repeated in the last 48 hours, "FIFA has put its house in order." Hmm...indeed. Sounds like an admission of past wrongdoing to me. There's also been a return of £3 million of inappropriate payments. Certain big figures have been named, most notably Issa Hayatou, head of the African Federation.
The unfortunate timing of both the Sunday Times 'revelations' and Panorama's follow up has somewhat blurred the vision of England's real chances of gaining the 2018 World Cup, with recriminations ready-made for Thursday's announcement, should it go against us. And I think it will.
Our failed bid in 2006 came with a degree of arrogance redolent of those heading up the English game at the time. A gaggle of inadequates at the top had got the financing of the new Wembley spectacularly wrong and considerably reduced our standing in world football. I well remember seeing the English bid team around the world handing out toy red busses while Beckenbauer obliterated them with his dazzling smile, persona and linguistic skills. Englishmen do not mingle comfortably with foreigners, insularity is in our genes.
Now we have Becks, Cameron and our next king all in Zurich hoping to win hearts and minds at the death. Why bother sitting down with the snake-oil salesmen, the deals have been done.
England say they have the fans, the grounds and the infrastructure to warrant success. Really? The Germans built an impressive list of huge grounds for 1974. For 2006 they went out and did the whole programme again, only better. Integrated metro stations, open space sites, an outdoor cafe culture of a kind the UK has never embraced, superb road and rail networks.
England's blueprint boasts none of this. We put forward a list of old and small inner-city grounds, utterly unsuitable when aligned to our creaking transport system. "England has the fans and the passion." Well who doesn't? This is empty PR rhetoric. Are we going to shed our inhibitions by 2018 and welcome the world with a handshake? More likely to greet Johnny Foreigner with the same blast of World War 2 tunes we boorishly sung to hordes of bemused locals around Cologne, Frankfurt and Hamburg in 2006. Detestable.
Spare our blushes FIFA. Russia may be challenging - chaotic and corrupt, dodgy transportation, shortage of decent hotel rooms, large distances to cover...but they will put on a sporting show and their natural resources mean they can afford it. Spain and Portugal may both be heading for the poor house but the ambience would be great, and they have friends in high places. Belgium/Holland apparently had the worst inspection report and look to be the outsiders.
All wil be revealed from Zurich on Thursday. Are you holding your breath?
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