The smart money is now on Spain and Portugal hosting the 2018 World Cup. Spain are the World Cup holders; they have one of the best two leagues in the world (some would say the best); and both countries have some impressive stadia. Transport links by rail within Spain have improved by leaps and bounds.
The smart money is now on Spain and Portugal hosting the 2018 World Cup. Spain are the World Cup holders; they have one of the best two leagues in the world (some would say the best); and both countries have some impressive stadia. Transport links by rail within Spain have improved by leaps and bounds.
Obviously I would like the World Cup to come to England, but I would rather it go to the Iberian countries than to Russia for all sorts of reasons. David Cameron is trying to pull off a Tony Blair style Olympics coup by pressing the flesh in Switzerland for three days, but I suspect this was something that Tony was a master at and Dave will do his best but is not in the same class.
The timing of tonight’s Panorma report on what is wrong with Fifa is not helpful to England’s bid to say the least. There is a lot wrong with Fifa, not least its dominance by one man, but is now the best time to talk about it? The broadcasters say the programme is in the public interest, but that is what they always say when they are chasing ratings. The BBC is a public sector broadcaster with a quasi-monopoly and this produces a very arrogant attitude. What are in its interests come first. In the long run, this may turn out to be a big mistake.
Meanwhile, the 2018 World Cup in Brazil is not without its problems. Yes, the source is the BBC, and they do some things very well, but pride comes before a fall.