It appears ever more likely as each day goes by that the English bid to host the World Cup in 2018 is going to fall by the wayside. Even the suspension of two FIA executive members yesterday for attempting to sell votes contained a dig at the British media for their “ethics,” and they could have been voting for England in the end. The bid will likely further be tainted by the screening of a Panorama special on the BBC about corruption at FIFA. If there’s one thing they don’t like it’s other people finding out how corrupt they are.
The news that we’re no longer favourites with the bookies is no surprise really, you know how the saying goes though – “every cloud.”
Anyone who remembers the last time we were in a contest for an international sporting event the French were favourites and no one gave London a chance winning the Olympic Games. Russia does have more money than France, Spain and Portugal are a lot hotter, there’s still a chance for old blighty to get the World Cup though.
Ladbrokes has England at 13/8, Russia the favourites at 4/5, the Iberian bid a little further out at 5/1. Recent assessments looked to have put England and Spain/Portugal out in front, it did nothing to change the odds though. Just have to sit here and cross our fingers I suppose.
