Martin Keown backs England's World Cup bid

Former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown has pledged his support to England's bid to host the World Cup.

Keown hopes the public will give their backing by signing up to put their faces on an official supporters' flag to mark the country's support.

Fans can give their encouragement by going to bt.com/2018 to add their name or profile photo from Facebook to the digital flag.

The photos and names will create a mosaic of hundreds and thousands of images on the virtual flag bearing the 2018 bid logo, The FA’s three lions badge and the slogan “England united. The world invited”.

Keown said: "We are desperate to get the World Cup in this country. We feel we deserve it. We have the stadia and we would create a tremendous atmosphere."

He acknowledges, however, it will not be easy, adding: "We've got to work really hard to get this. There is no complacency on our part and whatever we can do to get it, we must try to do."