One man, one envelope: What lies between England and the World Cup

Backing the bid: David Beckham . Picture Getty Images

Never has a day been so important to a nation.

Never has the congregation of 22 men been so significant.

Later today those very men will make a decision that will either transform a recession hit country or completely destroy any hopes it ever had.

Zurich is where the eyes of the world will be focused this afternoon.

David Beckham, David Cameron and Prince William can do no more. Together with the Football Association and the rest of the country they sit anxiously awaiting arguably the biggest decision in our sporting history.

For months, even years it's developed into something of a formality - it's our time.

Recent weeks have done their best to shatter that dream as stories of corruption have escalated to dizzy heights leaving the question on everyone's lips that of, what if?

Should we fail to win the bid, not only will it undermine the integrity of our home sport, but that of our Governing body.

It's time the sport we founded, nurtured and shared with the world to love and cherish, finally came home - if it doesn't our legacy will be in tatters.

From Plymouth to Newcastle, a nation would unite. 17 of the worlds finest stadiums would play host to 32 of the world's greatest teams. A spectacle like no other - and that's not to mention the boost to our economy.

Over the last 10 years no other footballing nation has ploughed more money into it's grassroots than ours. The power of a world cup would be invaluable to the epitome of the sports future development.

The carnival atmosphere at this summers competition in South Africa was like no other. Think of the party in 2018, if football finally came home.

We've plotted, we've pitched, we've canvased and we've pleaded. It's over to Zurich. One vote will define a decade gone-by and a decade to come.

This bid rests on one man, and one envelope and if FIFA president Sepp Blatter is to utter the infamous words we all want to hear, one man deserves a knighthood. In Beckham we trust, back the bid.

The Royal PILF: His Royal Highness Prince William to marry Kate Middleton

Prince William and Kate Middleton announce their engagement Photo: PA

By Dan Morris

APPARENTLY today is quite a significant, historic moment, one that will forever be remembered, I’m told not because one has finally decided to delve deep into the realm of the blogosphere but because we now have a Royal PILF (Princess…)

Broken today was the news that Prince William – the future king of England – is to marry his long term girlfriend Kate Middleton, and it goes without saying she’s one of the more attractive members of the Royal family.

I can’t help but acknowledge the fact that His Royal Highness has done remarkably well for himself; I’m looking for reasons as to how?

It interests me as to whether or not Miss Middleton needed time to consider such a proposition, I’m thinking the prospect of becoming the Queen of England would take all of zero seconds to ponder.

What I can say is she is sure to brighten up a dull and let’s face it ageing Royal family, Miss Middleton will certainly breath a new lease of life into an otherwise uninteresting ancestry.

Despite having grown up post Diana, I’m still aware of the furore that surrounded the nations princess; I’m told she was quite a looker too (in her day of course).

Partly, what made her such a national treasure was her image, something aside from the stereotypical royal.

As with Diana, there was a time when it would have mattered that the future queen of England was a ‘commoner’ but it seems not anymore.

There’s something quite exciting about the fact Miss Middleton is the daughter of an air hostess– it’s the Diana chronicles all over again…

She’s just a normal girl from a normal family – in County Durham - albeit for a matter of months, because that is now destined to change.

Perhaps I’ve over estimated this whole event but even I know the significance of such an addition to such an iconic part of British society.

Possibly the most interesting thing about this whole occasion is how well people seem to know them. Especially for a couple who have, quite possibly, kept themselves out of the media spotlight remarkably well.

Over the next twelve months a nation will watch with bated breath as the most eagerly anticipated wedding to date is mapped out with a fine tooth-comb.

The most important thing about a wedding as grandiose as this one will be getting it right – after all the world’s eyes will be on it.

Questions that we’ll want answering are, when and where. For sure the wedding is set to take place in the capital but does William want to marry in the Abbey where his mother’s funeral took place? Or St Paul’s, where she wed.

Tradition expects and so too does a nation, For Sky News the day can’t come soon enough.

Is there a more fitting way to revive a recession-battered nation’s spirits than an extra day off work as the focal point of the worlds attention is feast upon a Royal Wedding – probably.