England legend Alan Shearer has thrown his weight behind the proposed bid to host the 2018 World Cup finals.
The former Blackburn and Newcastle striker hopes memories of the 1996 European Championship, when the Three Lions reached the semi-finals on home soil, will encourage the Football Association to formally launch a bid.
Football Association officials will meet on Wednesday, and although they wll not finalise an attempt will draw up a plan of action.
Australia and Japan have already thrown their hat into the ring to host the pinnacle of football tournaments.
"I can only speak from my own experience when we had Euro 96 here, it was a great success," said Shearer.
"The fans loved it, the football was good and we were reasonably successful as a team."
Football Association officials will meet on Wednesday, and although they wll not finalise an attempt will draw up a plan of action.
Australia and Japan have already thrown their hat into the ring to host the pinnacle of football tournaments.
"I can only speak from my own experience when we had Euro 96 here, it was a great success," said Shearer.
"The fans loved it, the football was good and we were reasonably successful as a team."
