The South African delegation, first out of the starting blocks, was led into Fifa headquarters by a man dressed in ceremonial Zulu lion skins and head dress loudly proclaiming to scores of television cameras and photographers, ``South Africa's time has come. This beautiful game is our game, this is our time.''

Standing on a stage with the World Cup, the South African delegation made an emotional presentation before handing over their 1,500 page bid book to a smiling and obviously pleased Blatter, who has made no secret of his desire to see the finals go to the African continent for the first time.

The England delegation, by far the largest of the five bids with 135 people including 70 journalists and20 school children, arrived in Zurich on a specially chartered British Airways jet christened ``Bringing football home''.

When the official delegation, led by 1966 World Cup winners Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst, young Liverpool striker Michael Owen, former Sports Minister and special envoy Tony Banks, did arrive they were ushered into Fifa headquarters by school children waving the English flag.

The group needed only 10 minutes to state their case beforeturning over the 1,000-page document to Blatter and returning to the airport for the charter home.

``I know England has the best bid,'' declared Charlton. A delegation from Fifa will visit the five prospective finalists over the next few months, inspecting facilities and existing stadia and also conducting detailed discussions on telecommunications, transport and security.