Blatter gets behind England 2018 bid

England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup has been boosted by a claim from FIFA president Sepp Blatter that it would be "easy" for the country to stage the tournament. FIFA begin a four-day inspection of the facilities in England on Monday as part of the bid process. The world governing body's executive committee will reveal which nation has won the right to stage the tournament on December 2. The main rival is believed to be Russia, but Blatter's positive words have boosted hopes that the World Cup could head back to England for the first time since 1966. "The easiest way to organise the World Cup is to go to England," Blatter is quoted as saying. "Everything is there - fans, stadiums, infrastructure - it's easy." Speaking about the Russian bid, he added: "You cannot deny Russia if they bid for something. "They are more than a country. They are a big continent, a big power."

Source: DSG