- Title: VARIOUS: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Belgium-Holland 2018 World Cup bid preview
- Date: 26th November 2010
- Summary: SLATE INFORMATION
- Embargoed: 11th December 2010 12:00
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- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAC6HI213J2IL0JR5XNNTWCON4N
- Story Text: The Netherlands and Belgium successfully co-hosted the European championship a decade ago, but world governing body FIFA have expressed doubts that they can manage a 64-match, 32-team World Cup finals.
Though the bid comes from two of Europe's smaller countries, they have a long common history, a common currency, a shared border and experience of hosting a tournament before, plus a combined area little more than half the size of the next largest rival, England.
The bidding team believe their promise of a compact World Cup has clear advantages, allowing fans to watch a match every day and making the tournament more green. The most far-flung stadiums are less than 400 kilometres apart.
The bid however, provides a test of whether FIFA is willing to offer the World Cup to smaller nations embarking on a co-hosting venture after its technical report said last week that such bids could pose "challenges".
Despite that, the Dutch, in particular, argue that it is time for them to host.
The Netherlands, second in FIFA's world rankings, are the highest-ranked nation not to have hosted a World Cup and have reached the World Cup final three times, including this year when they lost for the third time.
They have produced some of soccer's greatest players including Johan Cruyff, Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten.
Belgium, though only 62nd in FIFA's November rankings, have reached the World Cup finals 11 times and can point to the 1980s when their Red Devils really did create problems for others.
The Belgians and Dutch are playing up their plan to train 2,018 new coaches across the globe and their environmental credentials.
They plan, for example, to make two million free bicycles available and to collect phosphates from fans' urine, providing a raw material that can be used to treat water or as fertiliser.
The two countries, both among the seven founding FIFA members, have already hosted a soccer championship, Euro 2000, which largely went well in eight cities across the two countries.
A World Cup is of a different order, however, and is the principal cash cow for governing body FIFA.
Bids from larger countries England and Spain, part of a joint bid with Portugal, or Russia, which offers emerging-market potential for sponsors, might more instantly appeal.
Frank van Eekeren, sports specialist at Utrecht University's school of governance, said it would give hope to many others hoping to host the World Cup if Belgium/Netherlands were chosen for 2018.
"Otherwise, the conclusion is that there are only really 15 to 20 countries that stand a chance," he said.
The Dutch and Belgians believe their infrastructure, such as public transport and airports, is up to scratch. However, there is still a lot of work to do to expand existing stadiums and build new ones.
The countries have only three arenas capable of holding 50,000 people, but plan to build 80,000-seater stadiums in Brussels and Rotterdam.
There is also the question of whether the two countries need 14 stadiums seating 40,000 or more. Charleroi, one of the proposed venues which also hosted matches at Euro 2000, had just 3,213 fans attend the visit of Westerlo earlier this month.
Facts and figures relating to the joint Netherlands/Belgium bid to host the 2018 World Cup finals: Bid motto: Together for Great Goals Why are they bidding? Both nations were founding members of FIFA in 1904 and believe the time has come to prove it is possible for smaller countries to host the finals.
Best footballing moments: Although the Dutch have reached three World Cup finals (1974, 1978 and 2010) they have lost them all, and the highlight of their soccer history remains their convincing win in Euro 88 in West Germany. Belgium were surprise World Cup semi-finalists in 1986 and runners-up in the 1980 European championship.
Best-known footballers: Three-time European Footballer of the Year Johan Cruyff was the Netherlands' greatest player and defined the "Total Football" era of the 1970s.
Other greats include Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard who helped AC Milan to European Cup success in 1989 and 1990.
Belgium's greats include goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff, midfielders Enzo Scifo, Jan Ceulemans and defender Eric Gerets in the 1980s.
Previous World Cup performances: Netherlands have made nine appearances, reaching the final in 1974, 1978 and 2010. Belgium have been in 11 World Cups and were semi-finalists in 1986.
Main stadiums for 2018: New 80,000-seater stadiums are planned in Brussels and Rotterdam.
Best points: The most compact World Cup. The longest journey spectators would have to make between stadiums would be 360 kilometres, convenient for fans and also environmentally friendly. Airports and infrastructure, from public transport to hotel rooms, are good.
Possible drawbacks: FIFA has expressed concern that a co-hosted event poses "challenges". The stadiums still have to be constructed or expanded to meet the required 80,000-seat capacity for the final and opening match. Both countries have dense road networks and traffic jams are common.
Legacy point: Organisers plan a green tournament and have a global coaching scheme leading up to 2018.
What they say: Ruud Gullit, bid president: "It will be the greenest World Cup ever with an environment protection plan the world has never seen before. "The compactness of our countries is a great asset -- due to the short distance the next game is never far away and we will offer the fans a network of free public transport and two million free bikes."
Bookies' odds: William Hill of London rate the bid as 50-1 outsiders.
Population: Belgium: 10.6 million, Netherlands 16.6 million Number of clubs: In Belgium, some 450,000 players in 2,000 clubs. In the Netherlands, 1.2 million players at about 3,400 clubs.
FIFA world rankings: Netherlands 2, Belgium 62 Trivia fact: The Dutch are often referred to as the best team not to have won the World Cup. Their Total Football from the 1970s won over neutrals, although they picked up seven yellow cards and one red in a ferocious display in the 2010 World Cup Final.
Belgium have not qualified for a major tournament since the 2002 World Cup. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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