Putin arrives late, but in triumph - dpa

One of the biggest questions hanging over Zurich before the voting for the 2018 World Cup hosts was whether Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin would be present when the country made its final bid presentation, dpa reported.

Putin was not, and explained his absence by saying that he did not want to add pressure to the FIFA executive committee, which - he said - was under siege from the international media.

He did, however, arrive in the Swiss capital some hours after the announcement was made, having jumped on a plane the minute FIFA president Joseph Blatter pulled the piece of paper with Russia written on it out of an envelope.

The charismatic 58-year-old politician addressed the media in a press conference he conducted himself as soon as he arrived and he greeted the media with the Swiss 'Gruezi'.

He started off by telling a story from his home town of Leningrad. "During the Second World War the city was under siege for for nearly 900 days.

"There was no food, no heat in the Russian winter, no electricity no water. They were terrible conditions. But even in those times, football matches were held.

"Football brings a spark into the lives of people," he said. "Football is a school for young people and it makes a difference in the world - for the better."

He congratulated Russia's rival bids - England and joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Netherlands - and said they were all very special and significant.

"We are honored to win after a tough and fair fight."

He did not rule out working together with the countries that had bid against them. "When the fight is over, it is normal for every civilized country to work together. We need such consultation and assistance."

Putin then promised that the World Cup will be up to the highest standards, with excellent new stadiums, free visas and free travel between venues.

He said that Russia had decided early on that it wanted to run its bid under a similar philosophy to that of FIFA.

"We want to enhance the border of the world and engage new territories and countries. The idea of hosting in different venues is to give millions the chance of joining the football family."

Putin said that their budget would run into 10 billion dollars, but that some of it would be funded by private-public partnerships, adding that he hoped Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who was present at the final presentation, would also be involved.

"He has a lot of money - he can give us some," he said to the laughter of many of the journalists.

   Putin, who previously served as the Russian president and is rumoured to be considering moving back into that position, said that he would make that decision at a later stage after discussing it with the president.

"We will then make a decision about my future. But the whole country is behind the support, not only the president and the government, but everybody."

He said that he hoped the World Cup would provide people with an opportunity to get to know Russia. "A lot of stereotypes rooted from the time of the Iron Curtain still prevail.

"They fly like flies all over Europe but the reality is different." He called on people to come to the World Cup. "You will communicate with people and you will see the country and you will love it," he said