By Paul Francis

Sports minister and Kent MP Hugh Robertson says England still has it all to play for in the race to host the 2018 World Cup.

The Faversham and Mid Kent MP is in Zurich with the Prime Minister as the countdown begins to the announcement tomorrow.

Mr Robertson said the prospects for England had not been derailed by revelations in the BBC’s Panorama programme alleging that FIFA officials took bribes.

"The feedback we have been getting here is that FIFA recognises there is a difference between the British media and the British government. They are football people and will vote on the technical merits of the bid. The difficult issue is the immediacy of the [Panorama] programme to the vote. The key thing is to keep people focused on the core strengths of our bid."

He said England’s push for the right to host the tournament was being bolstered by the presence of the Prime Minister and David Beckham.

"We are the only country to have had the Prime Minister out here for three days. It is all about sending out the right message."

England is up against rival bids from Russia, Spain/Portugal and Netherlands/Belgium to win the right to hold the 2018 competition.