Australia should host World Cup: coach

Less than eight weeks before FIFA decides who will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup,
Paraguay coach Geraldo Martino said Australia would be a shoo-in to get the gig.
Martino watched his team go down 1-0 to the Socceroos at the SFS on Saturday but the
Argentinian, who first visited the country as a player almost 30 years ago, believes
Australia is the favourite to win the bid.
"It's very simple. You have already held a competition like the Olympics here which
was very good and you have all the infrastructure, plus Australia is a first world
country," Martino explained.
"I was here a long time ago playing in the `81 Youth World Championships, and even
then I was impressed.
"So I think you have a very good chance to win your World Cup bid."
Martino also believes the level of football in Australia and the Oceania region has
improved in recent years.
"I don't think there is a big gap between the level of South American football and
Australian football at the moment," he said.
"Australia is very competitive.
"Countries like Australia, Japan and New Zealand all did very well at the World Cup
this year so it's always good to get experience against them."
Paraguay's Sunderland defender Paulo Da Silva, who crosses paths with a number of
Australians in the English Premier League, was also impressed with the calibre of
players this country produces.
"Of course I'm aware of the Australians playing in England," he said.
"Players like Tim Cahill, (Brett) Emerton, (Richard) Garcia are all very well known
in the Premier League. Especially Tim Cahill."
In aid of the bid, Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge was covered with 11,000 square
metres of grass to host 7,500 people for Breakfast on the Bridge on Sunday.
A four metre high football was rolled down the centre of the landmark by Football
Federation Australia (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy and FFA CEO Ben Buckley, along with a
selection of players from the Socceroos and Matildas.
"A FIFA World Cup in Australia will be fun, relaxed, safe and secure," Lowy said on
Sunday.
"We want the world's greatest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup, to come to our
shores."