England 2018 must do homework

While England prepares its bid for the 2018 World Cup, Jonny Payne asks European Under-21 tournament organisers for their advice on hosting a major championship in the modern era of fan parks, corporate hospitality and football tourism.

England will compete to host the 2018 World Cup finals; its first since 1966 - and we all know what happened there.

The last time England hosted a major international football tournament was in 1996, when Terry Venables’ men made it to the semi-finals only to lose a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out to old foes, Germany. If England does win the right to host the 2018 tournament then it will therefore be its first for 22 years.

Euro’96 was deemed to be a great success as football “came home”, captivating the nation; but the whole tournament experience has been evolving in recent years and England will need to keep up with the changes.

Look no further than the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The tournament saw the advent of fan parks; where fans without tickets can watch the matches, and fans with tickets can warm-up with a few pints, play some games and catch-up on football highlights. It is a tough act to follow.

Sweden hosted the European Under-21 Championships in June and tried to emulate the German idea of fan parks - albeit on a smaller scale. The idea seemed to work according to tournament organiser, Karl-Erik Nilsson.

“In a big European Championship the fan zones are there to take care of people who come without tickets in their thousands. The fan zones in a tournament such as the Under-21s are there because we want to keep up the interest for the tournament not only on match days, so this is a way to remind people that there is a tournament going on.”

Nilsson believes that the contribution of the host cities as well as some luck is vitally important for a successful competition. “The host cities are so important to create something more than just the matches. You also need some good luck with the weather, for example, and a quite successful home team because that keeps up the interest on a domestic level. The last two points you cannot plan for but you can hope for.”

Sweden was lucky in both respects; its team made it to the semi-final and the tournament took place in scorching sunlight throughout the two weeks.

Sweden has also launched a joint bid with Norway for Euro2016. Nilsson believes that by hosting the successful European under-21 Championships it could give them an advantage in the bidding process.

“If we do a good under-21 tournament and everything else between the bidders is equal of course this is a good memory for people who have been here and perhaps could act as a support for the Swedish bid. On the contrary, a bad performance here could have been negative so from that perspective it was important.”

Andreas Meimermondt, LOC (Local Organising Committee) project manager for Helsingborg agrees: “I definitely think that this tournament has increased Sweden’s chances of hosting a future major tournament. Sweden has put an application in for Euro2016 and it has never been hidden that this is a dress rehearsal or a show of faith for Euro2016.”

The west coast of Sweden was chosen as the venue for the tournament as opposed to Stockholm because, according to Nilsson, the host cities need to be close to one another in geographical terms. Something, which the former referee stresses, should be considered for England’s bid “The main thing is that you need to have venues not too far from each other because the team has to travel and you also need to have a good infrastructure.”

Hosting a tournament is a major part of the football history of the country something, Nilsson believes, England need to consider when hosting a World Cup. He said: “If England host the tournament it is important to remember that even if you are in the middle of hard work, you are writing a chapter in the history of English football and that’s a big thing and it’s easy to forget that when you are in your own world.”

Meimermondt believes that England should not toe the line for FIFA if they do win the right to stage the biggest football competition on the planet. “My advice to England is don’t be pushovers. It’s very easy to become pushovers to UEFA or FIFA in this. You have to adapt to their demands but you also have to make sure that you don’t compromise what is your reason to doing this and your drive in this process. And it’s very easily done.”

Thomas Walfridsson, the LOC project manager for Gothenburg states that the preparation for a championship is all-important. His advice for England 2018 is to “do your homework and then it will be a great tournament.” He adds: “If you are well prepared then it’s much easier. Start to plan everything in time.”

If England does win the right to host the World Cup it is evident that there is a lot of work to be done, but if it goes as smoothly as the Under-21 tournament, then it could potentially be one of the greatest shows on earth.

Berg: Playing in England a 'dream'

Sweden striker Marcus Berg, who has made headlines with seven goals in four matches during the tournament, says it would be a dream to play in England.

The FC Groningen striker's performances have alerted a number of clubs in the Premier League, with Aston Villa among the clubs rumoured to be interested.

Berg said: "It’s a dream to play in a top league in the world and I think England is one of them so it’s a dream of course."

Berg was named as player of the tournament, receiving a standing ovation from the home supporters at the final on Monday night. He was presented with the trophy by former Sweden striker Henrik Larsson at the post-match press conference.

The former IFK Gothenburg player, who moved to the Dutch outfit for £3.5 million in 2008, scored 17 goals for his club last season and has already played for the Swedish senior national team.

Photo Credit: Antoon

The only way is up for Joe Lewis

Joe Lewis must have his head in the clouds. The 6ft 6ins goalkeeper was playing in the fourth tier of English football two years ago, but a senior England call-up, two promotions and a run-out in the European Under-21 Championships later, and the Norwich-born stopper is only looking upwards.

The Peterborough goalkeeper only played 45 minutes for England as they reached the final, but with first-choice goalkeeper Joe Hart suspended for the crucial game, Lewis was in with a chance of starting. Stuart Pearce, the England coach however chose to place his trust in Scott Loach, who conceded a disastrous goal in England’s four-goal mauling.

Lewis’ 45 minutes came against Germany in the final group game. Coming on at half time in place of Loach, he didn’t have too much to do but he was happy with his contribution. ”I was comfortable I wasn’t put under a great deal of pressure but I thoroughly enjoyed it and you are always interested in playing a part in the tournament and I think I played my part.”

Lewis is clearly just happy to be in the England manager’s plans. Speaking of his call-up to the under-21 squad travelling to Sweden, he said: “I was delighted. I had been in the squads leading up to it, but it was really good to be included it’s great to come away and train with the players in the squad, we’ve got some top draw players and it will only improve me as a player.”

It has been a dramatic climb to stardom for the 22 year-old and he will be playing against more world-class talent this season as his Peterborough side face the likes of Newcastle and Middlesbrough in the Championship - something Lewis is relishing. “It's great for the club, great for the fans, there are some massive games. We’re thoroughly looking forward to that but we won’t be overawed, we’re all in the same league by right we got so we won’t be scared of teams.”

Lewis believes that Peterborough are not just there to make up the numbers. “We’ve got a young squad that improves every year and we’ve got one or two special players in there that I certainly think can go one step further and play Premiership football. We’ve got a young enthusiastic manager who backs the team and he’s signed some very good players.”

The manager is none other than Darren Ferguson, son of legendary Manchester United boss, Sir Alex, and he is showing signs that he could one day follow in his father’s footsteps.

There were rumors linking Lewis with a Premiership move following his shock call-up to the England senior squad last year for the match against Trinidad and Tobago, but Lewis dismisses the speculation insisting that he is currently happy where he is. “We’ve had back-to-back promotions now so it would be a silly time for anyone to leave the club I feel,” he said.

But what about another call-up to the seniors and a chance to pull on the famous Three Lions shirt?

“That’s the ultimate aim for any English goalkeeper to play for England, but I’m not going to get ahead of myself. Club-wise I’m going to keep playing and try to impress at the Championship level. At the moment I’m unproven at that level so it’s another step for me. I’ve got to prove to certain people and to myself that I’m good enough for that.

“Fingers crossed in a few years time if I’m playing well for the club then I can look at making the senior squad.”

If Lewis continues to improve at the vast rate he has, then that England cap may not be long in coming.