Tradition V Modernity- Where football is the winner

There is every chance that England and Qatar will be battling it out to stage either the 2018 World Cup, or more likely, the 2022 World Cup. This represents a dilemma for FIFA: go with the tradition, where each stadium and each person lives and breathes football; or side with the 'new kid on the block' with bags of money, but a worrying lack of soul. At the risk of sounding like a footballing Victor Meldrew, who sits in his armchair not wanting the world to change, exclaiming 'I don't believe it!' whenever the planet decides to move on without informing him, this fight is surely over before it has even begun. Favouring Qatar over England would be like kicking your own mother and siding with the mouth-watering girl next door who has fluttered her eyelashes at you once since she's lived there for half a decade.

When England play Brazil, sparks fly, no matter how many first-teamers are missing for either side. There is usually a wealth of trickery on show from the Brazilians which comes up against the guile and pace of the England team. However, when the two met at the Khalifa Stadium in Doha the other day, all the energy seemed to be sucked out the game. Brazil showed only fleeting glimpses of brilliance; England failed to get out of first gear. Even the atmosphere reflected the game- it seemed as if, due to the heat, no one could be bothered. The radio commentary seemed lacklustre, although coming from a glass box, it is no wonder that the commentators couldn't get wrapped up in the game. England blamed the heat for their no-show in Germany 3 years ago. In July, temperatures reach around 40 degrees in Qatar. If every game is like the one on Saturday due to the stifling heat, then Qatar will certainly not be having my blessing.

In contrast, every single one of England's stadia has magic. Even the new 'stone bowls', such as Arsenal's Emirates Stadium appears to be a remarkably modern and smart looking stadium. Although some have criticised the New Wembley for lacking atmosphere, the mystique and history that surrounds 'the Home of Football' more than makes up for it. So much history surrounds English football, it seems a terrible state of affairs that the country that gave the world football has only hosted the biggest prize in world sport once. Perhaps the biggest factor in deciding that England should have the World Cup is the people. I imagine that some will have left the Khalifa Stadium on Saturday exclaiming that 'it's just not cricket'. As Mike Bassett once said, 'when England win, everyone is smiling. You go to any bus stop or workplace, and you will see people smiling'. If England win the World Cup, then people will be smiling for a month solidly.

The only thing that appears to be stopping England from taking back what is rightfully ours is the hapless Lord Triesmann, and his band of merry men and women. Everything else is in place- the stadia, the infrastructure, the history, and most importantly of all, the people. Over to you, m'Lud.