SWITZERLAND: SOCCER - Brazil confirmed as 2014 World Cup hosts, Germany to stage women's tournament in 2011

Germany win the race against Canada to host the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, and Brazil is officially announced to stage the 2014 Men's World Cup. Germany have been named as the hosts of the 2011 women's World Cup, beating off a rival bid from Canada. The decision was announced by FIFA president Sepp Blatter following a meeting of the organisation's executive committee on Tuesday (October 30). "I think it's a good decision for the development of women's football in the whole world, because we've reached a good level of platform in Germany and with this World Cup, we want to reassert that not only in Europe, but also in Africa, Asia and all over the world, Women's football is becoming always more interesting. The women play more and more football; a top level football play is being attained and is reaching a national and a worldwide dimension. We also want to apply integration policies in this World Cup, so I think it's a good decision for Women's football in the world. Naturally, I also think it's a good decision for Germany, we're very, very grateful that five years after the Men's World Cup, we're re-appointed by FIFA to carry out such a tournament", German football association president Theo Zwanziger told Reuters TV following the announcement. Germany have won the last two women's World Cup finals. "It's a really great success and it's a wonderful proof of trust for our German football fans, and it's very encouraging especially for our football women to defend the 2011 World Cup title in their home country", German minister for youth and Women Ursula Von Der Leyen said. Their winning bid comes just one year after the country hosted the 2006 men's World Cup anda 16-year wait for Europe to stage the women's version. Using the motto "Welcome back", the German bid team relied heavily on their successful staging of the men's event in their final presentation to the executive committee. Assisted by players Birgit Prinz and Fatmira Bajramaj, the bidders also emphasised the pedigree of the German national team. "Now after the decision, I truly feel happy, my feelings are indescribable, and I'm really glad that we're playing the World Cup home", Fatmira Bajramaj told Reuters TV. The bid envisages the use of 12 stadiums, including the Berlin and Frankfurt grounds used in 2006. Brazil, the only bidding country, were named as the host nation of the 2014 World Cup finals by world soccer's governing body FIFA on Tuesday (October 30). They become the fifth country to host two World Cups following Mexico (1970 and 1986), France (1938 and 1998), West Germany/Germany (1974 and 2006) and Italy (1934 and 1990). Brazil were the only contenders because of FIFA's policy of rotating World Cups through its six continental confederations. On Monday (29 October 2007), FIFA announced they were ending their policy of rotating the Men's events through the continents beginning with the 2018 World Cup, which was due to be staged in North America. The decision was taken in an effort to maintain a competition in the races to the win the staging of the World Cups. More than 160 Brazilian delegation members and media were in Zurich for Tuesday's announcement including President Luiz Ignacio 'Lula' da Silva, Romario, a member of Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning team, and Dunga, who captained the side in 1994 and is now the national coach. Lula, who would have stood down as president in 2014, said he would be just happy to be just another fan when the World Cup comes to Brazil. "With God's help, I will be there as a supporter. I will be 69 and I will be cheering. I believe it will be an amazing party for the Brazilian people." He also joked with the 41 year-old Romario who still plays sometimes and has been also used as coach by his club Vasco da Gama. "Romario will be by then retired," he said. Lula also defended the work done by Dunga, who won the 2007 Copa America defeating Argentina 3-0 in the final in Venezuela, despite the absences of star players Ronaldinho and Kaka, who asked for a rest instead of playing for their country. The president said he would expect the current manager would be in charge in 2014. "Dunga will be in charge of the national team. Dunga has done an important thing recently. When some players decided not to go to the Copa America, everybody in Brazil was already thinking that Argentina would be the champions. There are people in Brazil that like to see defeat before it happens in a strange way. And I think our victory in the final (against Argentina in the Copa America) was a demonstration that the Brazilians can lose a match but cannot lose the pride and the self-esteem of being Brazilian. I think Dunga is proving himself as a coach who acts in a serious manner and picks players as they prove their worth. I will be there as a supporter, clapping, shouting, smiling and crying like any other Brazilian," the president said. Pele, who was in Brazil's winning World Cup teams of 1958 and 1970, was not with the delegation. He has not endorsed Brazil's World Cup hosting aspirations in the past.

ITN Source | October 31, 2007

Tags:. .sepp blatter. .event. .presentation. .tuesday october. .race