Confidence remains high over England bid

The Football Association are still reeling from the weekend expos that cost Lord Triesman his job as both chairman of the bid and chairman of the organisation as a whole.

FIFA are also to investigate the allegations made against the Russian and Spanish FAs contained within Lord Triesman's broadside to determine whether they contravened bid regulations.

The whole sorry mess has clearly had a negative effect on the chances of England winning the right to host the biggest football tournament on the planet, with Russia now assuming the role of favourites.

Former FA chairman Geoff Thompson, from Sheffield, is the man who has been charged with sorting out the mess ahead of the final decision in December this year.

However, Capello has issued a timely rallying cry as the FA try to shore up their position.

"I am confident we will still be able to host 2018," said the England coach. "England is the perfect place to host the World Cup. It is the best country in the world to play football."

England's troubled bid was yesterday given a boost at a critical time by both UEFA president Michel Platini and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner.

Platini believes that in Thompson, England is in good hands.

"For the bid, Geoff Thompson is a good guy," said Platini. "England is a great country and it can recover and survive this."

Meanwhile Warner said the FA's swift action had limited any damage.

"It's unfortunate but the English FA dealt with it appropriately and quickly and therefore I don't believe there'll be too much negative reaction from it," said Warner.