So I said it a year ago - does anyone believe me now?

This was on News24.com - a South African web news site, not made up, or Aussie propaganda.......
2010: Countries on stand-by

Apr 30 2007 10:49:50:133AM


England and Australia remain contingency options to host the 2010 World Cup in case SA fails to meet deadlines, Fifa president Sepp Blatter has said.

London - England and Australia remain contingency options to host the 2010 World Cup in case South Africa fails to meet organisational deadlines, Fifa president Sepp Blatter said.

South Africa will become the first African nation to host football's showpiece event in three years' time, but reports of delays in stadium construction work have reportedly threatened hopes of the tournament being staged there.

Fifa remain confident that all necessary facilities will be ready in time but Blatter clearly feels Fifa need to keep options open in case there are any unforeseen problems.

Asked if England or Australia were fall-back options should the South African organisation falter, Blatter told the BBC's Inside Sport programme:

"Yes, but there are other countries that are ready to organise tomorrow morning or in two days, or two months, a World Cup. The United States of America, and Mexico, they can do it, Japan, they can do it. They have enough stadia.

"You say England can do it, and I am sure. Spain, they can do it. There are a lot of countries, but they don't need to be ready."