05 December,2010 08:14 AM IST | | AFP
Germany expressed sympathy for England's failed 'perfect' bid to host the 2018 World Cup after the event was awarded to Russia by FIFA.
In an open letter to England titled 'You'll Never Cry Alone', German daily Die Welt said England's application had been hindered by allegations in the British media of corruption amongst FIFA's executive committee.
"England has been abused by FIFA because its newspapers told the truth," wrote German journalist Stefan Frommann with the letter published in both English and German.
"You feel cheated because Russia has been successful and not you.
"Your application was perfection and the committee you sent to Zurich was as good as it gets.
"But because the British press did the job a free press is supposed to do and exposed FIFA's corruption, nobody wanted to see the painting.
