Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, has praised Russia's bid to host the 2018 World Cup finals, but suggested England remain in the driving seat.

Blatter recently visited the former Soviet state to discuss their bid to host the 2018 or 2022 finals, having appeared to have settled on a European venue.

That would leave England and Russia fighting it out with joint bids from Holland and Belgium as well as Portugal and Spain.

"Apart from England you have the bid from Spain and Portugal, the small but very pleasant bid of the Netherlands and Belgium, and the big Russia also wants to come in," Blatter told the London Evening Standard.

"[England's bid] is the easiest bid in the world. They have the football already organised. They have everything.

"England has no problem in delivering a World Cup. The other bidders must convince the executive committee. England does not have to convince us."

England will find out in December if they have won the right to host the tournament for the first time since 1966.