And you thought we were done milking the FIFA World Cup meetings?
In addition to displaying a fear of technology, offering up some “moral compensation” to Ireland (Richard Dunne’s response,”No thanks“), and that little thing called the Group Stage draw, on the agenda last week was the World Cup 2018 and 2022 bids. Each bidding country was permitted to show a short video extolling their nation’s strengths and selling points.
To the surprise of no one, England’s bid committee has yet again proved that FIFA is not the only incompetent governing body. England’s video was compared, not so favorably, to South Park or a wedding video. The video has no celebrities (Australia had Nicole Kidman), no players, no game highlights, and actually no video whatsoever. Just animation. Because presumably three-odd minutes of animation is the most enthralling way a country can drum up support.
Yup, pretty crap. England are still in the drivers’ seat to host dis ‘ting < / chav >, but boy are they doing everything in their powers to make it difficult for themselves. To my eyes, it reminds me more of an in-flight videos on transatlantic flights (“So sit back, relax, and enjoy England hosting the next World Cup.”) It’s not so much outright terrible but just poor, as in cheaply done.
At least the USA brought out the big guns, as in NYC Michael Bloomberg (heh).
[Update: Apparently the U.S.'s presentation was "totally ruined" by the late arrival of Figo into the venue.]
As for other nations’ videos, most of the official bid videos haven’t turned up on Youtube (yet), but here’s Russia’s video for comparison. It features Akinfeev and the Magic Pixie, some stock guitar rock music, crowds, etc.
Not so bad I guess, at least compared to England. Maybe there’s still time for England to hire the guy who did this video. I believe that our very own Norfolk Ned is available as well.
nothing like some good ol’ USA chants to really get others to choose you.
the england vid is laughable. i liked how England works with countries around the world at the end of the video…except Greenland.
Russia in the lead on videos since it was the only one to feature hot women…even if only briefly.
I’m surprised I can’t find more videos on the youtube… I’m pretty sure the USA vid wasn’t the one shown last week, just something they produced with Hizzoner.
And I still haven’t been able to watch the England video all the way through… so, so, so boring.
1) the shot of the map with all the cities, where the ocean is for some reason BLOOD F’IN RED reminds me of shots of Nazi expansions across a European map.
2) not sure putting Mascherano on there when you’re talking about England being friendly is a good call considering he f**king hated England the first year he was here
@TFA: Ha, f**k Greenland!
Greenland is s**te. Not even green.
I don’t think I’d really be good friends with those lads in the Russian video at the 38 second mark.
Thank you, Mayor Bloomberger. I accept this World Cup on behalf of every–Stern rules! Baba Booey!
It seems that the US video has just been posted:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BN1jSpiyIM&feature=response_watch
Gawd I hope we didn’t use that creepy Bloomberg footage.
I watched about 30 seconds of footage before I had to turn it off, but did I see something akin to “Lie back and think of England” or did I just dream it?
Well, if losing the bid for the WC is inevitable, you might as well just lie back and enjoy it