London  - England manager Fabio Capello gave his backing to England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup on Wednesday.

"I think England would be a fantastic place for the World Cup," Capello told Sky Sports News.

"The stadia are OK, the people are fantastic as well so I think it needs to come back here after so many years.

"I hope this will be in 2018 because England is the place where football was born. I think England needs football to come back home."

England have submitted one of 11 bids submitted to the ruling body FIFA before Monday's deadline. The countries are bidding for the 2018 and/or 2022 editions. The hosts will be elected in 2010.

England hosted (and won) the 1966 World Cup and also staged the Euro 1996 tournament. (dpa)