Alberto, Gullit, Cole champion 2018 bids

Carlos Alberto, Brazil's World Cup-winning captain in 1970, said he would like to see world champions Spain and neighbours Portugal as co-hosts.

Former Netherlands midfielder Gullit pushed his own nation's joint bid with Belgium and ex-England striker Cole said his country would be an ideal venue.

"In my opinion today, it should be Spain and Portugal. Why? Spain are the actual champions of the world and Portugal also have tradition," Carlos Alberto told Reuters.

"(Portugal) held the European championship a few years ago (in 2004). They have conditions, beautiful stadiums, for me it should be Portugal and Spain," he said after a beach tournament involving former players.

"There is not a lot of travelling for all the people. You can take one hotel, from that hotel you can go to every game around this tournament," said Gullit, whose country staged the Euro 2000 tournament jointly with Belgium.

"This is a useful advantage andof course it is the greenest World Cup ever. We provide two million bikes."

"I like to believe we've got a great infrastructure in England, I think everyone knows the passion of the English game," he told Reuters.

"It is shown around the world and a lot of players want to play in the Premiership because of the passion and the support we have. So fingers crossed we can get the World Cup."

"Brazil are always one of the favourites and even more playing at home," said the 1978 World Cup winner.

"I believe Argentina will have a good team, we have the players. Lately we have had the players but have not achieved much."