England mourn failed World Cup bid

David Beckham summed up England's hurt at their dismal defeat in the contest to host the 2018 World Cup saying: "It's crushing."

England were knocked out in the first round after picking up just two of the 22 FIFA executive committee votes while Russia went on to secure the victory.

Beckham said: "When you put so much work into something and you don't get anything from it, then it is crushing.

"A lot of people have done a lot of hard work and we deserve to host the World Cup. Let's hope we get it at some point.

"The way we presented our country was exceptional. I think we would have put on one of the best World Cups in history."

Bid chief executive Andy Anson told the BBC that England had expected to get more than the two votes they picked up.

"There were other votes we thought we were going to get that would have taken us way into the second round and beyond.

"Some of those didn't materialise, I don't know which ones.

"It would be nice to know because, when people look you in the eye and promise you something, you tend to hope they live up to their word, but clearly that's not happened."

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Prince William said: "We had a very strong bid, sadly it didn't work out. The guys have been doing a fantastic job, we ran a really professional campaign, and I'm immensely proud of them.

"Congratulations have to go to Russia, I'm sure it will be a very good World Cup. The guys are quite down at the moment but I'm immensely proud to be a part of it.

"I'm sorry for the fans back home, we did everything we could."

Prime Minister David Cameron flew home before the decision was announced having spent the past two days lobbying in Zurich.

"It is desperately sad," he said. "There hasn't been a World Cup in England in my lifetime. I was hoping we could change that, but not this time.

"I'm bitterly disappointed. According to FIFA we had the best technical bid. No-one could identify any risks of coming to England.

"I think we had the strongest commercial bid and the country is passionate about football. But it turns out that's not enough."

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "I would like to commend the whole of the bid team for all their hard work and dedication.

"Along with millions of others, I am deeply disappointed we did not win. I am sure the World Cup will be back here again."

Shadow sport secretary Ivan Lewis called for an independent root-and-branch inquiry.

"Despite the impressive efforts of Team England, supporters will be bitterly disappointed at England's failure to land the 2018 World Cup," he said.

"This follows on from the England team's poor performance in South Africa.

"Serious questions have to be answered as to how we can learn lessons from these significant setbacks to build a better future.

"The coalition and the football authorities should now set up an independent root-and-branch inquiry into all aspects of how our national game is run."

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt, said: "I, like the whole country, am obviously hugely disappointed with FIFA's decision.

"England's 2018 team put together a fantastic bid and we can honestly say there is nothing more that we could have done. I congratulate Russia on being selected and wish them luck for hosting the tournament."

The FA also expressed their disappointment in a statement, with general secretary Alex Horne saying: "Well done to Russia. They will organise a great World Cup and we will be focused on ensuring that England play a very significant role in 2018 on the pitch.

"Our England 2018 bid team and our supporters in Government deserve immense credit for conducting such a strong campaign."

England bid board member Lord Sebastien Coe admitted Russia's presentation had been shrewd and may have helped seal their success.

The Russians pointed out that the World Cup had yet to be staged in eastern Europe, compared with 10 times it has been held in the west of the continent.

"It was a very similar concept that Rio went for in Copenhagen (when they won their bid for the 2016 Olympic Games) just a few months ago," Lord Coe told BBC Radio Five.

"They showed a great concentration of Olympic Games and World Championships had been in a few trusted and tried areas.

"I think that worked quite strongly for them today."

Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein was also integral to England's bid team, and was angered that "the best team didn't win".

"It was always going to be difficult and it wasn't made any easier by certain elements. I'm not going to go into that now," he said.

"When the technical study and the economic reports came out, we were one of best - if not the best - and I think you'll agree that the presentation today was top class, so that makes it all the more disappointing that we didn't do better.

"Before it comes back to Europe it will probably be 2030, we were really trying so hard to get it to come to England in 2018.

"I'm not sure how it worked, all I can say is sometimes in life - we've seen so many football matches in our time - the best team doesn't necessarily win."

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who was also part of the official delegation in Zurich, was also quick to express his disappointment.

"This is a tremendously disappointing result," said Johnson.

"We put together a cracking bid, our technical specification was top notch and our stadiums would have been packed to the rafters. Londoners love football. This is a blow but we have achieved a great deal with this bid and we have much to look ahead to."

Current national team captain Rio Ferdinand is "gutted".

The Manchester United defender, who has played an ambassadorial role in England's bid, wrote on his Twitter account: "Wow Russia will host the world cup 2018...soooo gutted. What more could we have done? What did we do wrong?"

Martin Peters, who was part of the England team that won the World Cup on home soil in 1966, said on Sky Sports News: "I'm absolutely gutted. I'm sure the boys of 66 would have loved to have it back here and there'll all be really upset."

His former England team-mate Roger Hunt said: ""It's 44 years since 1966, it would have been fabulous to have the World Cup here again because it would bring back so many memories. It would be a fantastic time and obviously everyone in the country would be taken up with it. Every time you mention 1966 now, you think of the World Cup final.

"I'm very disappointed. I thought we had a good chance. We have probably the best facilities, the best players play over here and we've got all the grounds ready to go tomorrow."

Former Football Association chief executive Mark Palios congratulated the bid team for their efforts.

"The bid team themselves did a fantastic job," he said. "They put forward the best case they could put forward and it's no discredit to them the fact we haven't won it. It's deeply disappointing for this country."

Palios feels the election process needs looking at.

He continued: "The fact you have a very small electorate is a big issue. If you've got that you've inherently got the ability for a number of individuals to influence it. I think that's what needs to be looked at."

Former England skipper Alan Shearer told BBC Radio Five Live: "I don't think anyone could have done any more, everyone's worked very, very hard but at the end of the day it's not been successful. If you try your best at least you can sleep at night.

"I was hoping I might see a World Cup in my lifetime in England. I wasn't born the last time we had one in '66.

"It's unfortunate, it's sad, it hurts, but you have to congratulate the winners and Russia have been winners today - and Qatar - so well done to those guys, I'm sure they've worked very hard, but it's disappointing from my point of view."

Gary Lineker, whose tally of 48 international goals is the second-highest in England's history, added: "They've always said they want to push the frontiers - I was surprised they went with two new ones but there were a lot of good strong bids.

"It was always going to be hugely competitive, I just wish it was us."

Sir Keith Mills told the BBC: "I think we are all gutted.

"We felt over the last 18 months that we put together an outstanding bid."

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn felt England were a victim of politics and admitted the decision was a big blow for a city that would have been one of the hosts.

He told Sky Sports News: "A lot of people gave virtually their whole lives to this over the last 18 months. The collective will in this region was incredible.

"I'm a little bit surprised Russia got it, I thought there was too much guesswork when you were evaluating Russia's bid. I was more fearful that Portugal and Spain was the big one.

"We won't get bitter and twisted but, having put so much work in, having been highly commended for our national bid, having scored a highly as we did technically, I think there were other forces at play.

"I'm not sure what they are yet, the politics of it all seems to have strangled the English bid."

Source: http://www.espnstar.com/football/premier-league/news/detail/item541578/England-mourn-failed-World-Cup-bid/