Euro 2008 Group E clash as Israel host Russia on Saturday, in a game all English fans will be keeping a close eye on. Click here for the latest odds!

UEFA president Michel Platini remains unconvinced that England deserve to host the football World Cup in 2018.

Discussing England’s bid to host the finals Platini said he would definitely back a European bid but that England still needed to “convince” him.

“As European president, we need to do our best for the best country to receive the Cup in 2018,” he said in an nterview with the BBC.

“I hope for you it will be England but at the moment I have nothing to say.”

The former France captain and coach revealed his concerns about the influence of money and a loss of identity in English football. Since becoming UEFA president, Platini has sent a letter to all European heads of government, highlighting what he called “the malign and ever-present influence of money” which represented a “serious threat” to the game.

“You will have to convince me,” said Platini on England’s chances.

“If there are two or three European countries going to bid, they all have to convince me.

“I am the president of Uefa, I can’t say I will vote for England, I will vote for Russia, or I will vote for the Netherlands.

“I will vote for one European country, of course, and I will bring all my strength to bring all the European countries to vote for one, and to maybe help. I will do my job.

“But why England, why not Russia or the Netherlands? We will look.”

UEFA backing will be crucial to any European country’s chances of hosting the tournament.

Euro 2008 Group E clash as Israel host Russia on Saturday, in a game all English fans will be keeping a close eye on. Click here for the latest odds!