OWN CORRESPONDENT, London | Thursday 2.45pm.
FIFA vice-president David Will predicted on Thursday that England’s “flawless” bid will win the right to stage the 2006 World Cup.
The Scottish lawyer is the sole British representative on the 24-man executive committee which will decide who hosts the prestigious tournament at a two-day meeting in Zurich at the beginning of July.
Will has already declared his intention to vote for England but is one of only four members of the executive to reveal his hand.
Speculation has been rife as to where the other votes might go, with South Africa still the favourite, followed by England and Germany, with Morocco and Brazil the rank outsiders.
Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst are currently heading an English deputation in the Bahamas, who will make a formal presentation at the Concacaf meeting in Nassau on Saturday.
Three votes are at stake in the region and with the organisation lacking an entrant in the campaign, the destination of those votes could be crucial in the overall outcome.
“It is easy to lose track of the fact that it is only 24 individuals who have this vote,” said Will.
“When you attend a congress there are a maximum four people who have the vote but you can never leave anything alone because you never know when you are answering an all-important question.
“The Concacaf region is very important in the opening stages because they do not have a representative bidding.
“I have heard it said that England are not going to get through the first round but I think they will achieve that comfortably and eventually they will win.”
In a complicated voting process, each of the 24 executive members will choose a candidate.
Once any country reaches 13 votes, they will win on a straight majority decision.
If no majority is achieved, the bottom-placed candidate drops out of the race with a completely new ballot being held.
So, the second and even third choices of the delegates could decide the final outcome, which is why the England team are campaigning so vigorously.
Having been boosted last week by the news that Brent Council are set to grant planning permission for the “new” Wembley, England’s major hope is that if they can overcome Brazil and Morocco in the opening rounds, they will pick up enough second-choice votes to push them in front.
“Brazil doesn’t seem to be canvassing at all but the rest have been positive presentations,” said Will.
“However, the England bid is so well put together it is difficult to see a flaw in it and I would imagine they will gain in strength as the voting progresses.
“There is a block with Africa but I do not know whether it is with South Africa or Morocco.
“England will gain strength as the other countries are knocked out and I think they will accumulate sufficient strength to win.” — AFP