Aussies urged to team up with China

Baptista · Post by **Baptista** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:52 pm

Aussies urged to team up with China

Australia should forget about bidding for the 2018 World Cup on its own and concentrate on co-hosting the event with China.

It's either that or else Australia's dream of hosting the world's biggest sporting event will remain just that, according to former Asian Football Confederation (AFC) general secretary Peter Velappan.

FIFA's co-ordinator of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea said this was a unique opportunity for Australian fans to see some World Cup finals action.

"Let's face it, England is overwhelming favourite for the 2018 event,'' Velappan declared.

"But Asia would have a much more realistic chance of staging the tournament if China and Australia teamed up in a joint bid."

"China is making giant strides forward in all aspects of life and would be expected to get the nod ahead of Australia if the two countries decided to go it alone.''

"However I have no doubt, and I speak through experience, that these two giants of the AFC would present a formidable combined challenge.''

"The World Cup is a huge event with 64 matches. China could have six groups and Australia could have the other two. What would happen in the knockout phase remains to be seen.''

FIFA opened the way for Football Federation Australia to apply to host the 2018 event by scrapping its controversial rotation policy.

Under the old system the championship in that year would have taken place in CONCACAF, which comprises north and central America.

Any association outside Africa and South America, who will have hosted the previous two tournaments in 2010 (South Africa) and 2014 (Brazil), is entitled to put its hand up to stage the 2018 extravaganza.

Velappan refuted suggestions that FIFA was against the idea of co-hosting, with Belgium and the Netherlands confirming their interest in teaming up for a shot of glory in 2018.

"FIFA came out and said 'never again' after 2002 but they never came up with serious reasons why it did not work,'' Velappan protested.

"Naturally a World Cup in China and Australia would raise a few logistical problems, mostly to do with distances, but it can be done. I know it because I made it happen in 2002.''

Velappan explained why it was in Asia's best interests to promote a concept of co-hosting rather than have two separate fronts working against each other.

"Two separate bids would play into the hands of England, who have not had the World Cup since 1966,'' Velappan said.

"Apart from the fact that England is the motherland of the game, Germany had it in 2006, Spain has had it, Italy has had it and France has had it. So it is only natural that it is now England's turn.''

The co-hosting idea received a lukewarm response from World Sport Group (WSG), the Singapore-based organisation that bankrolls Asian football.

"Two countries that are not geographical neighbours co-hosting such a huge event as the World Cup is a big ask,'' WSG president Seamus O'Brien said.

"We are talking here about much greater distances than that of 2002. I think it is almost impossible, in my opinion.''

"I cannot see it happening but then again history teaches us that nothing is impossible in such bidding processes."

I say this is a bad idea we are a better footballing nation and totally capable of holding the 2018 world cup!

delfino_1936 · Post by **delfino_1936** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:56 pm

the travelling though for players would be really bad. Should be Australia and New Zealand

Juventino · Post by **Juventino** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:26 pm

How the hell could that be a possiblility? You cannot expect players to travel that sort of distance for each round. Belgium and Holland are neighbouring countries and Japan and South Korea are only a short flight away.

A bad idea.

Hawkesy · Post by **Hawkesy** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:23 pm

Rigoni 10 wrote:the travelling though for players would be really bad. Should be Australia and New Zealand

Agreed with the first part but on the second, cross confederation joints bids are certainly not allowed.

delfino_1936 · Post by **delfino_1936** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:49 pm

Hawkesy wrote:
Rigoni 10 wrote:the travelling though for players would be really bad. Should be Australia and New Zealand
Agreed with the first part but on the second, cross confederation joints bids are certainly not allowed.

lol no shit i forgot we are apart of Asia

manU4life · Post by **manU4life** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:49 pm

australia is big enough to hold it on its own but it is too soon as we still are a footballing minnow, china dont deserve it either. however, the same can be said for south africa...how the hell they managed to get it god knows.

Hawkesy · Post by **Hawkesy** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:02 pm

manU4life wrote:australia is big enough to hold it on its own but it is too soon as we still are a footballing minnow, china dont deserve it either. however, the same can be said for south africa...how the hell they managed to get it god knows.

It had to go to an african nation. Who else was going to get it?

nachoman · Post by **nachoman** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:04 pm

Equatorial Guinea ?

Hawkesy · Post by **Hawkesy** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:08 pm

nachoman wrote:Equatorial Guinea ?

Jo'burg or Malabo?

manU4life · Post by **manU4life** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:49 pm

Hawkesy wrote:
manU4life wrote:australia is big enough to hold it on its own but it is too soon as we still are a footballing minnow, china dont deserve it either. however, the same can be said for south africa...how the hell they managed to get it god knows.
It had to go to an african nation. Who else was going to get it?

tunisia

FerrariTifosi27 · Post by **FerrariTifosi27** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:51 pm

Australia & surrounding Oceanian countries depending who has big stadiums, Australia & New Zealand yes, Samoa, Cook Islands etc don't know

Missing Post Count · Post by **Missing Post Count** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 11:51 pm

manU4life wrote:australia is big enough to hold it on its own but it is too soon as we still are a footballing minnow, china dont deserve it either. however, the same can be said for south africa...how the hell they managed to get it god knows.

I agree... I'd have preferred it to go to Morocco. The business has to be done on the park first. I couldn't believe Japan got a share of 2002

Missing Post Count · Post by **Missing Post Count** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 11:52 pm

Hawkesy wrote:
manU4life wrote:australia is big enough to hold it on its own but it is too soon as we still are a footballing minnow, china dont deserve it either. however, the same can be said for south africa...how the hell they managed to get it god knows.
It had to go to an african nation. Who else was going to get it?

Morocco

Cerveza · Post by **Cerveza** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:41 am

that is a terrible idea ! there would be no way that would make our bid any better . a nine or ten hour flight difference dont think it would interest the players at all .would rather we enter our own bid and let chance and fate take its course . if we loose we loose and we can bid again for the next if we win even better. i still dont know what would happen regarding the afl though

E. Grant & Co · Post by **E. Grant & Co** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 1:33 pm

I believe it could work.

I don't think either China or Australia will win it on their own. If we go alone England will win the rights to host the 2018 tournament

FIFA is keen to open up the Chinese market but their political system will hinder them. However with Australia's support and the support of the AFC it could happen. 6 groups in China and 2 groups in Australia, the 2 groups play off as per normal with out leaving the country. The winners and runners up in each group go to china to play in the round of 16, winners and runners up from 2 of the Chinese groups come here, we get two 1/4 finals and a semi-final.

It can work.

One thing I have learnt from Novermber 2005 - Never say Never!!

Missing Post Count · Post by **Missing Post Count** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 1:36 pm

A world cup in two hemispheres... no I can't see it happening. If the two countries were much closer (ie China and Thailand) maybe, but Australia and China are geographically too far apart imo.

cantona_united · Post by **cantona_united** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 1:49 pm

neworder wrote:I believe it could work.

I don't think either China or Australia will win it on their own. If we go alone England will win the rights to host the 2018 tournament

FIFA is keen to open up the Chinese market but their political system will hinder them. However with Australia's support and the support of the AFC it could happen. 6 groups in China and 2 groups in Australia, the 2 groups play off as per normal with out leaving the country. The winners and runners up in each group go to china to play in the round of 16, winners and runners up from 2 of the Chinese groups come here, we get two 1/4 finals and a semi-final.

It can work.

One thing I have learnt from Novermber 2005 - Never say Never!!

i was thinking along the same lines. it depends on how successful china are in hosting the beijing olympics and how successful england are in hosting the commonwealth games, because if they cant manage them how will they be able to manage a world cup

Hawkesy · Post by **Hawkesy** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:01 pm

cantona_united wrote:i was thinking along the same lines. it depends on how successful china are in hosting the beijing olympics and how successful england are in hosting the commonwealth games, because if they cant manage them how will they be able to manage a world cup

Do you mean the olympics, rather than commonweath.

The olympics are in 2012 and the WC hosting will be decided in 2011. So that will not come into account.

The next commonwealth is in India and England have not bidded for the 2014 (scotland have though).

As for china, NO WAY. What's that a 7 hour flight. You cannot expect teams to fly for 7 hours to get to a game, not to mention the expense for fans.

What about when it gets to a stage when one team has to travel and the other doesn't?

E. Grant & Co · Post by **E. Grant & Co** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:07 pm

Some of these games are about aweek apart, so 7 hours isn't that tough these days.

There won't be a problem with only one team travelling as the 4 qualifiers from the Australian groups would all go over to China while 4 qualifers from 2 of the Chinese groups would come down under. If you program it so the two groups that come here also play off in the round of 16, problem solvered.

The 2 hemisphere thing will be a bug bear........I still think it could happen.

Never say Never

Missing Post Count · Post by **Missing Post Count** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:08 pm

Hawkesy wrote:
cantona_united wrote:i was thinking along the same lines. it depends on how successful china are in hosting the beijing olympics and how successful england are in hosting the commonwealth games, because if they cant manage them how will they be able to manage a world cup
Do you mean the olympics, rather than commonweath.

The olympics are in 2012 and the WC hosting will be decided in 2011. So that will not come into account.

The next commonwealth is in India and England have not bidded for the 2014 (scotland have though).

As for china, NO WAY. What's that a 7 hour flight. You cannot expect teams to fly for 7 hours to get to a game, not to mention the expense for fans.

What about when it gets to a stage when one team has to travel and the other doesn't?

Good point, but it could also be used as an incentive to win your group. The flight would be more than seven hours too. Agree NO WAY

E. Grant & Co · Post by **E. Grant & Co** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:17 pm

I still believe it could happen if we wanted it to.............

Really I haven't heard a sound arguement why it couldn't work, other than some people don't like the idea!

I'm sure there are many logistical reasons why it won't work but hopefully I'll be proved right and we will push forward with China and with the support of the AFC and pip the 'Old Dart' on the line.

Realistically I can't see either nation agreeing to co-host, both will won't to go alone and England will end up hosting the tournament.

Hawkesy · Post by **Hawkesy** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:19 pm

neworder wrote:Some of these games are about aweek apart, so 7 hours isn't that tough these days.

There won't be a problem with only one team travelling as the 4 qualifiers from the Australian groups would all go over to China while 4 qualifers from 2 of the Chinese groups would come down under. If you program it so the two groups that come here also play off in the round of 16, problem solvered.

The 2 hemisphere thing will be a bug bear........I still think it could happen.

Never say Never

So picture the situation

England win their semi final in Beijing, australia win theirs in Sydney. The final (England v australia) is in 7 days time in beijing. Are you happy about the travelling that australia have to do against a team that has not had to travel.

Oh and Sydney - beijing is a 12 hour flight.

katsouranis3 · Post by **katsouranis3** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:00 pm

losing a day of prep just in travel would hurt, its just not possible even flying from perth to melbourne is al ot for a world cup

E. Grant & Co · Post by **E. Grant & Co** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:03 pm

Thats rubbish Kats, Hells Bells FIFA expected us to travel 1/2 way round the world inside 24 hours to play a game, and we did and WON.

Give me a break mate......very feeble excuses, these guys could do it standing on their head..........Just do IT!

Hawkesy · Post by **Hawkesy** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:17 pm

neworder wrote:Thats rubbish Kats, Hells Bells FIFA expected us to travel 1/2 way round the world inside 24 hours to play a game, and we did and WON.

Give me a break mate......very feeble excuses, these guys could do it standing on their head..........Just do IT!

When did you ever have to travel half way round the world.

china/australia just can't work. NO WAY!!!

Look at the afl and the home records that teams like brisbane and the perth teams have for your answer on travelling.

E. Grant & Co · Post by **E. Grant & Co** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:48 pm

Cast your mind back to Novemeber 2005 Uruguay vs Socceroos, I can't find the actual details but if my memory serves me well, we played them home and away inside a period of 5 days, which included travelling over 23 hours after the first leg to get back here.

So don't try and say it can't be done, because we did it!!

pires7 · Post by **pires7** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:50 pm

to have a tournement but not host the final in Aus would be shithouse!

Rather it be in England personally or only in Aus, and why couldnt NZ host some games? They are in the same continent, just a different football federtation

E. Grant & Co · Post by **E. Grant & Co** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 4:01 pm

Two different confederations [Oceania and the ACF] now Pires, so FIFA definately won't let that happen.

Missing Post Count · Post by **Missing Post Count** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 4:03 pm

After South Korea and Japan Fifa has said they don't want to do joint bids against, which is a bit hypocritical because neither South Korea nor Japan wanted to co-host and actually put in separate bids. The decision to co-host was Fifa's and Fifa's alone and they brought this on themselves. The Koreans had done the business on the park, Japan hadn't qualified and in my eyes had no right to host it.

Now if two countries like Austria and Swizterland did for Euro 2008 get together and say we want to co-host it then it should not be a problem.

If Australia and New Zealand come to an agreement I'll say bring it on, but China is geographically too far away.

Hawkesy · Post by **Hawkesy** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 4:12 pm

neworder wrote:Cast your mind back to Novemeber 2005 Uruguay vs Socceroos, I can't find the actual details but if my memory serves me well, we played them home and away inside a period of 5 days, which included travelling over 23 hours after the first leg to get back here.

So don't try and say it can't be done, because we did it!!

Uruguay to australia is not even close to half way (not even a quarter)round the world. Playing in europe would be half way round the world. If that took 23 hours then next time, get a better travel agent.

Even so, both teams had to travel, not just one.

Are you seriously telling me that you would be happy to travel 13 hours to play in a world cup final. Because whether you had the final in oz or china, someone would have to do it for a major game while the other did no travelling.

What about the poor fans who then have to get on a 13 hour flight to see the game? What about their finances of being able to afford that. People thinking this is a good idea should change their usernames to FIFA, because you don't care for the average football fan either.