England deliver presentation

Prince William, Cameron and Beckham address Fifa voters

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 2nd December 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Our dream is to stage a world cup that makes you, your grandchildren and everyone in football truly proud.

David Beckham
Quotes of the week

Fifa are expected to announce the hosts for the 2018 World Cup at 3pm on Thursday and you can follow the build-up and reaction with Sky Sports News HD and skysports.com. We have reporters in Zurich who will bring you all the news from England's bid team first while you can join live, interactive coverage on skysports.com from 2pm as we count down to the big announcement.

SKY BET ODDS
Can England do it? They are 2/3 favourites to bring the World Cup home in 2018. Bet now.Bet now.

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

England's hopes of hosting the 2018 World Cup now rest in the hands of Fifa's voting executive committee after the bid team delivered their superb concluding presentation in Zurich.

Prince William, Prime Minister David Cameron and David Beckham were among those who spoke to an assembly of world football's governing body at its headquarters on Thursday morning.

England, installed as odds-on favourites with Sky Bet, will now face an agonising wait for the results of the vote against Russia, Spain/Portugal and Holland/Belgium, with an announcement expected at 3pm.

Holland/Belgium and Spain/Portugal have already offered their presentations, while Russia, whose hopes have drifted following the non-attendance of Vladimir Putin, are due at 11am.

England's bid ambassador, Eddie Afekafe, who works with Manchester City on their community programmes, opened the presentation with a short speech on how his life has been improved by football, before Prince William spoke from behind an on-stage podium.

Prince William said: "I love football, we English love football and it would be an honour for us to host the World Cup."

Prime Minister Cameron, without notes, then delivered a slick performance, which preceded a short film on English football and another appearance from Afekafe.

Social benefits

Andy Anson was the next to take the stage, with the England 2018 chief executive highlighting the ways in which the country's assets can be used to stage a "Spectacular festival of football".

Another video, featuring Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini and Manchester United chief Sir Alex Ferguson was then shown on the big screen to demonstrate the football facilities.

Anson concluded his contribution after the short film by highlighting the social benefits of the World Cup, which was echoed by Afekafe and had earlier been referred to by Prince William.

The Prince said: "What Eddie represents is a credit to Fifa because it's your game that transformed his life.

"England 2018 and Fifa together have the opportunity to create thousands of more opportunities for people like Eddie.

Supremely powerful

"It's a supremely powerful force for binding people together.

"I also give you an assurance that England is committed to developing football internationally as a member of your football family."

It was then Beckham's turn to take to the stage, with the 115-time England international speaking of his experiences in football and praising World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton, who was in the audience as part, and his own family.

Beckham said: "My life in football began with my grandad Joe. I've played on every continent and I'm proud to have been part of the success that English football has enjoyed over the past 20 years.

"I could never have imagined that Fifa would have invited me to take part in the World Cup draw. A year ago today my grandad died, the day before the draw. Now I want to do something that will make my grandad proud.

Dream

"Now I want to do more. That's why I am here and why everyone from the Prime Minister to Prince William to Eddie is here today. The benefits will be felt over generations and your vote can make this happen.

"To create a better future for our grandchildren and many millions more, just imagine what we can achieve together."

All members of the presentation took to the stage after a third video and Beckham delivered the closing speech.

He said: "Our dream is to stage a World Cup that is a spectacular tournament.

"Our dream is to stage a World Cup that benefits billions.

"Our dream is to stage a World Cup that makes you, your grandchildren and everyone in football truly proud."

Fifa president Sepp Blatter said at the end of England's presentation: "Thank you England for this excellent presentation."

He added: "Thank you again for this excellent, remarkable presentation."

Comments (39)

  • Page 1 of 2
  • 1
  • 2

James Bury (Blackburn Rovers fan) says...

what a good presentation it was! hopefully we can get it, as we have the greatest fans int world, we have ace stadiums. and beckham is a legend, give the man a knighthood.

Posted 14:56 2nd December 2010

Ishola Karim says...

wishing England the best. i hope football is once again allowed to visit home. well done will.., becks.. and the prime.

Posted 14:55 2nd December 2010

Harold Brown says...

good luck england,david beckham i love hope he get his knighthood NOW and i mean NOW

Posted 14:55 2nd December 2010

Steven Grocott (Stoke City fan) says...

A fantastic pitch by David Beckham - lots hope that FIFA award the world cup on football reasons and not political reasons.

Posted 14:35 2nd December 2010

Paul Thompson (Manchester United fan) says...

impressive presentation, really hope we get this,we all know we wont win the cup so to host it would be great.

Posted 14:31 2nd December 2010

Barrack Obama (Barnsley fan) says...

david beckam is GOD!!!

Posted 14:31 2nd December 2010

Brian Minty says...

I am so 'happy' to see a future king of Great Britain representing only one of the countries he will eventually 'rule' in the bid for the world cup. Surely it should be a British bid, not an English one!! but hey! I do hope they win, and I do hope they also remember when it comes to pay for this, it was an English bid............

Posted 14:14 2nd December 2010

Chris Jevins says...

Footballs coming home!!!

Posted 14:04 2nd December 2010

Liam Turner (Barcelona fan) says...

David Beckham = Legend Todays words could be as important as that last minute freekick against Greece.

Posted 14:03 2nd December 2010

Chris Jevins says...

Footballs comming home!!!

Posted 14:02 2nd December 2010

Aran Jackson (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Brilliant speech! It's great to see everyone coming together backing the bid. Shame the BBC didn't get on-board!!!!

Posted 13:53 2nd December 2010

Jo Working from home (Hull City fan) says...

If we don't get this after those presentations the whole of FIFA should be ashamed. The only reason would be them throwing their teddies out over the corruption allegations. If they have one ounce of integrity then England have it in the bag. However lets wait and see. Snowed in at home so will actually see it live- Can't wait!

Posted 13:43 2nd December 2010

Matty Green (Manchester United fan) says...

England should definitely be chosen to host the world cup because we invented football and we should be able to show everyone how good we are together as a country!! COME ON ENGLAND!!

Posted 13:40 2nd December 2010

Paul Foxton (Everton fan) says...

Awesome Presentation. We clearly have the best grounds, the best facilities, the best fans. We already have everything in place that we need to be hosts even if it was next week! It should be in the bag! Come on England!

Posted 13:38 2nd December 2010

Joseph Wood says...

David Beckham doesn't speak as dopy as he did

Posted 13:29 2nd December 2010

Paul Nuttall (Sheffield Wednesday fan) says...

Fantastic, double goose Bumps. Well done to everybody involved. Proud to be British. Come on England.

Posted 13:21 2nd December 2010

Frank(evertonian) Robinson says...

Can hear that music already. "Football`s coming home". Well done Team England. Great presentation.

Posted 13:17 2nd December 2010

Ian Finnie says...

Well done England on putting on a great bid, hope you get it. Can Scotland get in it as a home nation and maybe we could beat Germany on penalties..........

Posted 13:13 2nd December 2010

Shaun Craig (Manchester United fan) says...

Unlike the Olympics, this is one event that the whole country is united behind. It would have been nice to include a few games (maybe 3 of the quarter finals) for the other home nations to stage as well, such as the beautiful Millenium Stadium or inspiring Hampden Park. Despite the cynics and the sniping from various media trolls and hack gossip journalists, England have put forward the best case to bring football home!

Posted 13:13 2nd December 2010

Ron Owen says...

Don''t be over confident. Talk comes cheap in Football, Obviously we have a very strong case. But I'm afraid I am one who won't be shocked if we don't get it Good Luck England

Posted 13:05 2nd December 2010
  • Page 1 of 2
  • 1
  • 2

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private