Why, at absolute bare minimum, via the announcement of his candidacy football can be at one of those game-changing moments after which we will all say: ‘We no longer want to be duped, we no longer want to ‘settle’.’

‘We’ve seen better future and the concept of handing the safekeeping of this mighty sport to a man, or woman, of this credibility is now our baseline demand.’

Let’s put our foot on the ball for a second. Let’s pretend that Sepp Blatter (below) is actually a Swiss functionary in a minor accountancy firm in Zurich.

That the FIFA Presidency is, in fact, not tainted and a parody of itself but a blank canvas onto which you can project your dearest, most fervent wishes.

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I guess that we’d all begin by saying: ‘Make the FIFA President someone with a deep, intimate and loving knowledge of the game – preferably from having played or managed successfully in it’.

I think we’d add that we want honesty, vision, integrity, someone who is multi-lingual, who has a wide cultural experience. Someone who appeals equally to men and women.

Our design elements would include ‘youthful’ vigour, but not immaturity, and we’d fervently try to avoid pomposity, anachronistic behaviour and even the merest whiff of partiality, self-interest or avarice.

The capacity to unite, rather than a natural inclination to divide and rule.

Charisma. What about charisma?

The most charismatic sport ever invented in the history of human existence. Couldn’t we throw in a dash of charisma to this ideal global leader?

This template isn’t unique to David Ginola.

At stages of their lives or careers these adjectives, these qualities, have applied to men like Karl Heinz Rummenigge, Pep Guardiola, Johan Cruyff, Vicente Del Bosque, Trevor Brooking, Jurgen Klinsmann, Arsene Wenger.

But Ginola is the one who has stepped forward and begun a campaign not simply to lead but to unite.

From the first time I interviewed him, in the players’ car-park at White Hart Lane after a midweek win for Spurs, until yesterday when we talked at length about what he aims to give back to the sport which made him successful and famous, Ginola has quite evidently been a man of substance.

On his TeamGinola campaign, David Ginola told me: “I spent so long talking to people who told me ‘we don’t understand FIFA decisions, we don’t trust them any more’ that it convinced me to stand.

“Football is the greatest and the most popular sport on the planet and it needs to be respected. The only way to make that happen is that the biggest decisions, taken by FIFA must be transparent, crystal clear, common-sense, fair, honest, balanced and dignified.

“All my life I was an individual player who put everything he had into performing for the team, for the benefit of everyone around me. That’s the approach I want to bring to FIFA.

“My aim is that people can feel they’ve been given back a voice and a respect for the world game.

“That people can say: ‘Wow, what a massive change. ‘We had THAT before and now we have transparency, common-sense, defendable decisions and policies which can be understood, explained and which are crystal-clear in their philosophy.”

It would be misplaced to market Ginola (47) as perfect, or holier than thou. He’s going to be on a steep learning curve.

Cynicism is too often a default setting and it may be that some think he’ll be too politically naive.

What I would point out is that I saw a very, very similar phenomenon first erupt, and then beautify football, when the youthful, previously untested, forces of nature like Joan Laporta, Ferran Soriano, Marc Ingla, Txiki Begiristain, Frank Rijkaard and then Pep Guardiola took hold of a moribund and failing FC Barcelona and gave us a decade of outstanding excellence.

All based on Johan Cruyff’s football bible.

At Bayern Munich the integration of intelligent, energetic, dedicated, modern-minded men like Franz Beckenbauer, Rummenigge (yes, also the flawed Uli Hoeness) and Matthias Sammer over the years demonstrated that if you mix brilliant business and marketing men with the cream of football’s winners the blend can be powerful. Unstoppable.

Ginola added: “Football has been my life – from dreaming about being a professional when I was nine, to signing my first contract at 19.

“I’ve experienced the ups and downs and the word respect is used a a lot – more as a word than as an action.

“This is a game we earn a living from because people buy season tickets, match tickets, subscriptions to football on television and it’s long overdue that more respect was shown to that, shown to those people who make the sport.

“We can make football and its decisions respected again.

“Football belongs to those who love it. A leader should be rewarded for what he or she does in favour of those people, not in favour of themself.”

I guess most of us probably think of Blatter like this: ‘I don’t believe him’. ‘I don’t believe in him’. ‘I can’t believe we’re stuck with him.’

Now it’s time to believe. Believe in reclaiming football, believe that Ginola deserves the chance to prove that he’s our representative. Not saintly, not necessarily a vastly experienced administrator, not perfect. But a man of substance, integrity and vision.

Someone who, on May 29, I’d love to be able to call Monsieur Le President.

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FC Nurnburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (7.30pm)

The first Bundesliga clash of the next few days sees two sides go head-to-head who have made impressive starts this season and this could well be the game of the weekend in Germany.

Eintracht (9/4) have, in fact, begun perfectly and boast a 100 per cent record after three games so Nurnburg (EVS), who themselves have won two out of three, will know they will be in for a tough evening.

Victories over Bayer Leverkusen (2-1), a thumping 4-0 triumph at Hoffenheim and a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Hamburg mean the visitors will surely approach this clash with plenty of confidence as they sit second in the table behind Bayern Munich, who have also started with three wins from three.

Early-season results can sometimes be misleading with teams firing out of the blocks before fading badly but Eintracht appear to have plenty of talent in their squad to realistically mount a top-five Bundesliga challenge.

Goals have been not been a problem so far with Alexander Meier and Stephane Aigner, who have two apiece, particularly catching the eye.

Nurnburg, however, will be no pushovers and, with home backing, may also fancy their chances of a victory to maintain their good start.

Two impressive away wins (1-0 against Hamburg and 3-2 over Borussia Monchengladbach) have been sandwiched by a decent 1-1 draw at home against champions Borussia Dortmund.

A lack of star names means both sides focus on hard work and team spirit first and, with results going well so far for both, expect a tight contest with a draw appealing at 9/4. Goals look on the cards too and an entertaining 2-2 is tempting at 14/1 in the correct score market.

Montpellier v St Etienne (7.45pm)

The big game in Le Championnat on Friday sees out-of-form champions Montpellier (11/10) hoping to kick-start the defence of their title with a win over St Etienne (9/4, draw 2/1).

Montpellier were surprise winners of Ligue 1 last term and many people will not be surprised to see them struggling at the start of the campaign as they wrestle with higher expectations and the added burden of Champions League football.

So far, Rene Giraud’s side have managed just one win from five domestically (a 1-0 victory at Sochaux) and have been held to draws by Lyon and Toulouse while they have been beaten by Marseille and Lorient.

Clearly, all is not well, and the midweek 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in Europe, while no disgrace, shows their fallibility, especially as they threw away an early lead against the Gunners.

St Etienne, though, have not made a particularly good start themselves and sit in 10th place after five games, winning just two and losing the other three.

However, on closer inspection, their defeats have all been by just the single goal whereas the two wins were a fine 3-0 triumph over Bastia and a 4-0 hammering of Stade Brest.

Gabon star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is someone Montpellier will have to keep a close eye on with the striker proving a real handful to opposing defences so far as he has managed three goals and generally caused havoc up front.

There’s a case to be made for both sides to come out on top in this, too, but we think the visitors can snatch it, to therefore continue the champions’ poor start. Go for 2-1 to St Etienne at 11/1.

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Swansea v Sunderland (3pm)

While judging a side with a new manager after just two games is often a fruitless exercise, as so many make a good start before falling away badly, it is fair to say Swansea (11/10 – match odds) and Michael Laudrup could not have envisaged kicking off the new campaign in a more positive manner.

Two wins and eight goals without conceding anything at the other end is a dream start in anyone’s books and the stylish way they have begun bodes well for the Welsh side and the Danish manager’s Premier League prospects.

Beating QPR and West Ham in such a convincing fashion means Sunderland (5/2) will enter the Liberty Stadium wary of defeat but Martin O’Neill’s men can, as the match odds of 12/5 suggest, get a point out of this.

New signings Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson have added quality to the Black Cats’ squad and they should be able to build on the midweek Capital One Cup victory over Morecambe by at least coming back across the border with a draw to halt the Swans’ early-season charge.

West Brom v Everton (3pm)

Everton were mightily impressive despatching Aston Villa last weekend and will hope for a similar outcome back in the West Midlands this weekend (11/8 to win).

Boss David Moyes has sculpted a hard-working, but quietly very talented, side with key men Steven Pienaar, Marouane Fellaini and Leon Osman pulling the strings in midfield.

The Baggies (21/10) have also made a good start under new boss Steve Clarke, however, and expect them to make this a much tighter game for the Toffees than they had a week ago. Despite that, another away win, this time by the odd goal, looks on the cards to ensure the Blues’ fine start continues with 2-1 to Moyes’ side appealing at 17/2.

Spurs v Norwich (3pm)

Another home game for Andre Villas-Boas against supposed inferior opposition means it’s another game the new boss should win (4/11) but all is not well at the Lane early on and there are already fans scratching their heads over tactics and subsequent poor results.

Jermain Defoe has signed a new contract and is a good bet to score anytime at 11/10 but anyone expecting a convincing home win here is mistaken. Norwich will look to be defensive and compact under Chris Hughton (8/1 to win, draw 4/1) and can dig in and frustrate Tottenham, much like the way West Brom did last weekend.

Another tight game is predicted then with Spurs tipped to edge it. Go for 1-0 at 6/1 in the correct score market.

Man City v QPR (5.30)

City have hardly looked like champions so far but should finally click into gear in a repeat of the game that sealed their unforgettable title triumph in May.

They made that clash hard work, winning 3-2, and were scared similarly by Southampton on the opening weekend before grabbing a  lucky point at Liverpool last Sunday.

QPR, who have former City chief Mark Hughes in charge – a man always keen to make a statement at the Etihad – will be bolstered by some eye-catching recent signings but they look like still coming up short with a comfortable home win set to be the outcome.

West Ham v Fulham (12.45)

Andy Carroll is set for his Hammers debut in this one and will be keen to prove a point after being pushed out by Liverpool, apparently against his will. The England striker adds a new dimension to what has been a misfiring side so far and expect goals at Upton Park with Carroll well worth backing in the goalscorer markets.

Fulham (15/8), aside from their midweek Capital One Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, have been good so far and nearly followed up their opening-day 5-0 win over Norwich with a point at Old Trafford. So they will be difficult opponents for ‘Big Sam’s’ side (6/4) and a draw (23/10) is likely. Take 1-1 at 11/2.

Wigan v Stoke (3pm)

Probably the least attractive game of Saturday sees the Potters go to Wigan with Tony Pulis’ side still looking for their first win following two draws so far.

Wigan, who overcame Southampton last weekend, are on offer at 6/5 to win and will find it tougher on Saturday. A difficult one to predict, with the draw tempting at 9/4, but a narrow away win for Stoke looks a good bet at 5/2.

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David James

England last reached the semi-finals of the World Cup under the late great Sir Bobby Robson back in 1990 but fell foul of a penalty shoot-out, with Chris Waddle infamously blazing high over the bar from 12 yards to send West Germany into the final.

Six years later at Euro 96, Terry Venables’ vintage managed to beat Spain in a quarter-final penalty shoot-out but again Germany were too good from the spot in the last four, with Gareth Southgate this time the culprit.

The 1998 World Cup was another tale of woe as Paul Ince and David Batty both missed to hand Argentina a passage to the last four, while Portugal advanced to the semi-finals of Euro 2004 after Darius Vassell failed to convert when the shoot-out had reached sudden death.

It was the same story at the 2006 World Cup as Cristiano Ronaldo netted to send England crashing out once again via the lottery of the spot kick.

Following the disappointment of every defeat by penalties the press question whether the players actually practice the art of scoring from the spot.

James, who may well have the job of trying to save penalties at some stage in South Africa, admitted that the current squad has been ordered to practice from 12 yards but he feels that it should not be overdone, for fear of affecting a player’s mindset when it comes to the real thing.

“People were always asking why England did not practice penalties more and, under Mr Capello, we have done,” he told The Sun. “If there’s the potential for penalty shoot-outs I’m 100 per cent confident everyone will be well versed.

“But it’s not always as simple as just spending hours practicing – that can complicate matters. If a penalty taker practices with the same keeper, the keeper starts reading and saving them.

“Then you’ve got your penalty taker developing a complex because he is not scoring them and your keeper is completely thrown when someone new takes a shot at him.”

There are a number of betting opportunities involving penalties for the World Cup, and England to exit the tournament on penalties can be backed at 3/1, while England to lose to Germany on penalties trades at 25/1.

England to lose the final on penalties is available at 33/1.

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