David Owen: English football’s coming national inquest

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Once the white smoke from FIFA’s conclave of cardinals has dissipated into the clear alpine air on Thursday (December 2), the way will be clear for an almighty inquest into the way English football is run.

The disappointing nature of the national team’s 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa has ensured this inquest will happen whether or not England’s bid to stage world football’s flagship tournament in 2018 succeeds.

But, for all the efforts of Andy Anson, Prince William, David Beckham et al, an England win in this tough away fixture in Switzerland looks, as I write, a desperately long shot, notwithstanding the bid’s outstanding technical quality.

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