The whole voting system is wrong, very worng. I don't understand how countries, in a fair bidding system can drop votes after round 1. Purely tactical voting that shouldn't really be allowed. It's not illegal, it just doesn't sit right. People on the FIFA Exec Commitee should not be "anti" any particular bid. There were members who were anti England and that is clear from the voting numbers.

What I do not understand is the small number who decide where the world cup is to be held. This encourages integrity laws to be breached. A dinner with the PM here, a friendly arranged there to secure votes. You can do that wih 24 members (before 2 were suspended) and that is legal. If that was upped to the full quota of FIFA international members (200 and odd) for example, it would surely lower the chance of "corruption" for want of a better word. Surely this would be fairer for the other nations to have a say too.

As far as the scottish debate goes, England on the whole doesn't really care about Scotland. Some of the bitter Jocks will be happy that we didn't get the World Cup and that's because they don't have much to celebrate in their own society. I was genuinely happy that Glasgow got the Commonwealth Games, and I would be routing for them to get a major tournament in any sport. As I see it it's on our door step and if, for example, Scotland and Ireland ever got the Euro's it would be great to have world class action that we can get to for relatively small cost and in a short space of time. The scots somehow relate this defeat to a failure to England as a football team, comparing Ryan Shawcross to Xavi for example (which is like comparing Steven Gerrard to someone like Francisco Punal). What has it got to do with our footballing ability? Are Qatar better than Spain all of a sudden? Despite the bitter nature towards our great country, I don't mind them they're harmless in sporting terms (but not when they threaten referees).

I didn't though. The point I was making is that the England bid claimed that the Premier League was home to the best players in the world. It isn't in the slightest. It was a nonsense of a thing to say.



That will be Celtic then. Don't tar us all with the same brush.

For the record, I am genuinely delighted that England never got it for a number of reasons, one of which is that they are already p!ssing away enough taxpayers money (in the middle of a cash crisis) on the bloody Olympics. Wasting more money in order to satisfy the deeply in debt FA should have been a non-starter.

There is, of course, the extra added bonus that the most smug and arrogant nation in the world have one again ended up with egg on their face and worldwide humiliation. It is sweet, and it will not just be the "jocks" who will be chuffed to bits.

Will you be unhappy if he signed for your shower then?

nah, massively overated.

My apologies, I was skim reading.



I'm glad that England in failing to land the world cup for 2018 has delighted you, I really am. I would say the two most recent times I have been genuinely delighted was at the birth of my daughter and the contracts being signed for the City of Salford Stadium construction helping to secure the future of my club. If you take delight in seeing another nations bid to host a sporting event fail then that's just swell.

The bid has been a waste of money of that there is no doubt. In hindsight, we shouldn't have bothered as there was a hidden agenda on the part of the Executive Committee. I wouldn't say England have egg on their face. They, and the US & Australia to a certain extent, have shown FIFA up for what they are. A bunch of bent dinosaurs who are in it for their self interests.

You are clearly anti English and that is fine. We overpower you in the world of politics, finance, sport and social culture. I can see way you don't like us much. I hope for all these bitter Scottish folk they gain independence soon to see how they get on without the English putting an arm round them.

Class.

England, that paragon of virtue. We never have any kind of bribery/corruption/fixing/bungs here do we? Oh no. Don't mention Messrs Ferguson/Allardyce/Redknapp/Graham at all.

I've read some utter bilge on this forum before but whoever it was that called Russia a "nothing country" needs to give their head a severe wobble. Unbelievable.

I was born in England. My best two mates are English. I am in no-way anti-English. I just like seeing the bigheads get a slice of humble pie. But, then again, England only lost because of corruption didn't they? Can anyone actually remember when England lost at something and it was not someone else to blame or some form of "hidden agenda"?

You idiot hahahaha

Apart from the WC bid, can you give me three instances in which the ‘English’ (not a newspaper, a couple of radio presenters etc..) blamed someone else for losing?

Well done Russia and Qatar.

Well, barring the same crap when you did not get 2006, that you only fail cos your current boss is Italian, like the Swede some time before him. The failure to accept that you are International also rans rather than the big country you believe you are. If Beckham never got a red card in 1998 then the World Cup was there for the taking (remember the abuse he got?), and the same with Rooney in 2006. Pesky refs.

Maradona is a cheat (apparently Owen isn't though) and he cost them 1986. Amazing how many World Cups you have been robbed in. 2002 was worse with that complete fluke from Ronaldinho

Then we get scapegoats - Paul Robinson, Robert Green, Scott Carson, all costing the country their divine right.

I see however that there are a few on here that are not taking this at all well.

Think this one has gone on long enough if it's just going to turn into a silly bitchfest.