Beckham Pumps Up England 2018; Russia: Solid But No Game-changer

(WFI) England 2018's slick presentation to FIFA wins praise from FIFA president Sepp Blatter. British Prime Minister David Cameron and David Beckham are the stars in a pitch-perfect plea that leans heavily on the Premier League and the global legacy offering for FIFA.

Blatter went out of his way to praise England for their "excellent, remarkable" presentation after Beckham had told Ex-co members that the bid's Football United fund would benefit more than one billion people worldwide.

"Our dream is to stage a World Cup that is a spectacular tournament," Beckham said in his emotional final remarks. "Our dream is to stage a World Cup that makes you, your grandchildren and everyone in football truly proud."

"England 2018' was top trending worldwide on Twitter a short time after the presentation at the Zurich Messe.

"I owe my life, everything I have to football", Beckham said, adding that he was proud to have been a part of the success of English football over the past 20 years, noting the guidance given by his Grandpa Joe and Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton as he picked up trophy after trophy under Alex Ferguson's reign at the Premiership giants.

He said he wanted to be part of implementing England's legacy project, Football United, which promises to match FIFA's annual funding for grassroots football. "The benefits will be felt for generations in every confederation on every continent in the world."

England's videos variously showcased the English Premier League's popularity around the world and used the league's high-profile managers, Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Harry Redknapp and Roberto Mancini to make a point about the quality of the country's training facilities and stadia.

Prime Minister Cameron gave a big-hitting speech about the government and nation's support to stage the best ever World Cup. "We have the passion and expertise to put on what we believe will be the most spectacular World CUp in history.

He said it would exceed FIFA's expectations and meet the demands of players and fans, with stadiums "packed to the rafters" and providing a global legacy.

"We know you want a good event and we will give you the greatest event," he said.

England last hosted the World Cup in 1966.

Earlier, Prince William, president of the Football Association, had set the tone for the presentation in his brief message to FIFA that hit all the right notes.

"It [football] is our passion. I love football, we English love football," he said, "That's why it would be such an honour to host the World Cup."

England's charm offensive continued with bid CEO Andy Anson, who took a minute to thank the FIFA Ex-co members, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke and FIFA's World Cup inspection chairman Harold Mayne-Nicholls for their "warmth and hospitality" during the bid's long campaign.

He went on to talk up England's preparedness to stage the World Cup, with iconic stadia, modern training facilities in a safe environment.

Anson noted England's "track record or commercial success as the world's biggest football market".

"We can use these assets to create a special festival of football," he added, claiming the country provided "a potent mix of quality football on the pitch and entertainment and adventure off it".

/>Commenting on the Football United scheme, he said it would be a FIFA World Cup "for the entire world".

Russia push for first World Cup in eastern Europe

In the final presentation, Russia emphasized its ambitious development plans, the fact that it has never hosted the World Cup and the new society it is building. It was solid and fluid, but maybe not the "game-changer" bid CEO Alexey Sorokin might have hoped for.

"Our bid isn’t about why Russia has never hosted the World Cup before, it is about opportunity, opportunity for Russia and opportunity for FIFA," said bid CEO Alexey Sorokin in his opening remarks.

Sorokin said that hosting a World Cup would merely "accelerate" the football and domestic infrastructure plans in place.

A fun video with a young boy dribbling a ball around the "new Russia" was undermined by the grating techno music that few of the aged Exco committee would have appreciated.

The bid borrowed a tactic of the Rio 2016 Olympic bid –also adopted by Qatar and Holland-Belgium - by showing a map of Europe where the tournament has and hasn’t been awarded. Russia was the gaping void, although as Sepp Blatter pointed out afterwards it was a "huge continent, not even a country"

Ex-co member Vitaly Mutko addressed his colleagues in good English – a bold move from a man who is by no means fluent.

"Let me speak from my heart in English," he said. "Today is a unique moment in time for my country and FIFA. Russia represents new horizons for FIFA.

"Many years ago the Berlin wall came down, we can open up a new symbolic era for FIFA."

The 27-time world record breaking pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva said "Hosting the World Cup in Russia will bring more young people into sport"

She has broken her records "one centimeter by one", but hosting the World Cup would be "one great leap in one" for the country.

Arsenal midfielder Andrei Arshavin made a heartfelt case for what football has done for him, teaching him "discipline and respect" having been an unruly child. "The biggest legacy for Russia would be millions of football legacies, just like mine."

It fell to First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov to wrap up the presentation, but after what had preceded him he underwhelmed, and like the USA's star man Bill Clinton and Spain-Portugal's Angel Maria Villar-Llona went over his time limit.

After talking about his own football story, Shuvalov spoke of the vision for a new Russia, also alluding to South Africa and the changes many in FIFA believe they have exacted for the country.

"I think we deserve it. Russia represents the part of the world that has never hosted the World Cup," he said, adding that the finals could help it overcome its "tragic past."

"Without your help we will achieve our goals, but with your help we will achieve much more," he said.

"Only one decision you will take will make history. Let us make history together."

By INSIDER's Mark Bisson and James Corbett

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