Sidebar

28
Thu, Mar
25 New Articles

Typography

CARLOS Edwards is tipping England to win the race to stage the World Cup in 2018.

Ipswich Town's flying winger is one of the ambassadors for the England bid, a role he is relishing, alongside the likes of David Beckham and John Terry.

Edwards has earned 78 caps for Trinidad & Tobago, and was made captain for their last two World Cup qualifiers.

His vast international experience helped him to land this role as one of England's 50 ambassadors.

Speaking yesterday, £1.35m man Edwards revealed: “I was first approached about the role (of ambassador) while I was at Sunderland.

“I was shocked and surprised, but I didn't take long to think about it. I saw it as an honour to be an ambassador, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I suppose they saw me as someone who has travelled all over the world, playing football far and wide. That's why they have enrolled me.

“There are 50 of us on the list, and there are some very big names. I'm alongside the likes of John Terry, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney, while me and Kenwyne Jones are the two representatives from Trinidad & Tobago.

“It will be good to work alongside such people.

“I have been over in this country for the last 11 years, so I consider myself to be partially English.

“But it didn't cross my mind that I would be asked to be involved with England's World Cup bid for 2018. Now I just want to do my best to bring the competition to England,” added Edwards.

The ex-Wrexham, Luton and Sunderland winger is in no doubt that England have a great chance of landing the 2018 World Cup. It is being staged out of Europe for the next two competitions, in South Africa next year and then Brazil in 2014.

“Should England host the World Cup? I say, why not? The stadia and the supporters are here. You can't fault any of that,” continued Edwards.

“And all the crowd troubles of the 1980s are a thing of the past. Things have changed drastically, and it's time to move forward and not live in the past.

“The Premier League is the No. 1 League in the world, and that hopefully will give us the nudge in getting the vote for 2018.

“I'll be trying my best to get the signature of Mr (Jack) Warner (FIFA Vice-President). I want to get his vote, as someone from his native country,” added Edwards.

The 31-year-old, who signed for Town at the end of August, played for Trinidad & Tobago in the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany. They played group matches against Sweden, England and Paraguay.

Edwards confirmed: “The 2006 World Cup was a great experience for me.

“We didn't win a game, but it was the first time that Trindad & Tobago had been in the finals, and we were the smallest country ever to make it that far.”