Niall Quinn backing World Cup 2018 bid

Jun 10 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

NIALL Quinn believes the fans will determine the success of this year’s World Cup – and Sunderland’s chairman cannot hide his excitement about what it could do for England in 2018.

Quinn played in two World Cups, including Italia 90, widely credited with reviving football’s popularity in this country. He saw first-hand the excitement it generates, which is why he is so anxious to help bring it back to the North East.

England are bidding to host in 2018 or 2022, with both Sunderland’s Stadium of Light and St James’ Park in Newcastle earmarked as venues.

The 2010 tournament kicks off in Johannesburg tomorrow as hosts South Africa take on Mexico.

“I was at three World Cups,” recalled Quinn, capped 92 times by the Republic of Ireland. “One I was injured for (1994) so didn’t play but I had the World Cup experience. Italy in 1990 was great for me because I played.

“I remember a very partisan Italian crowd, it was all geared up for them to win and there was that Italian mentality that every game would be 1-0.

“It was a unique experience, a fantastic experience but not a fun experience. We all remembers Gazza’s tears, the penalty shoot-out, Bobby Robson’s dance, it brings so much happy

emotion, it’s a great binder. Our (Ireland’s) fans are great fun, but they brought the fun to it.

“In American in 94 there were amazing crowds but you’d get off the bus half a mile from the ground and the locals would ask, ‘What’s going on buddy?’ It meant nothing.

“I’m sure that it was fantastic financially for Fifa but it did nothing to leave a legacy or make me say that was the experience of my life.

“In 2002 I went to Japan and Korea and the people realised it was a chance to showcase everything good about their country. The passion and pride in their country made us all stop in our tracks and we thought, ‘Wow, these people have really grasped what it’s all about’. It was going to have huge, long-lasting positive effects on everyone.