After failed bids to host the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, Spain struck out on landing the 2018 World Cup. Spanish sports minister Jaime Lissavetzky said, “I am getting used tolosing.”
“Our bids have coincided with a period in which it seems to be en vogue to vote for powerful, emerging countries,” Lissavetzky said. “I am curious about the way in which the finalvotes have been cast. … Maybe the other candidates improved hugely since the inspection. But we cannot appear to be bitter – and nor should we be looking for excuses.”
CoachVicente del Bosque, who guided Spain to the 2010 World Cup title, said: “We had everything to be able to host the World Cup. But maybe Fifa’s executive committee wanted to expandfootball to new, more economically powerful territories.”
Roberto Palomar of sports daily Marca wrote: “If the world chose Russia over Spain and Portugal thenmaybe we should all emigrate to another planet. If they would rather play in new stadiums that look like spaceships than in the Bernabéu or the Camp Nou, then we have all gone mad. FIFA hascommitted a mistake, a big, big mistake.”
Hooray for Sr. Roberto Palomar of Marca! Finally! It is refreshing to hear a thoroughly honest assessment of the FIFA travesty on Thursday in Zurich.
Hooray for Sr. Roberto Palomar of Marca! Finally! It is refreshing to hear a thoroughly honest assessment of the FIFA travesty on Thursday in Zurich.