The English Football Association are convinced their campaign to beat Germany to host the 2006 World Cup is still alive and kicking after Sepp Blatter became the most powerful man in football yesterday.

Blatter, ironically a 62-year-old Swiss-German and former secretary general of UEFA, earned the vote of 111 nations - including England and current World Cup hosts France - to beat Sweden's Lennart Johansson in the fight to succeed Brazilian octogenarian Joao Havelange as president of FIFA.

And although Blatter has already promised Africa he will pull every string possible to ensure the 2006 carnival takes place on that continent for the first time in football history, the English officials were left mainly applauding his victory at the Paris Equinox Hall this afternoon.

Johansson, 68-year-old reigning UEFA president who fought tirelessly to reinstate English clubs in Europe following the blanket ban imposed after the 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster, had made it clear he would support the Germans for 2006.

And although it is still recognised that Blatter's influence will be immense when he recommends a bid by South Africa, the FA's view is that if this proves an impossible dream for Nelson Mandela's new Freedom Republic then England have the best possible alternative.

Alec McGivan, the director of England's 2006 campaign who was such a key figure in the success of Euro '96 in England, insisted: "We are enormously encouraged by Sepp Blatter's election because we are confident he is the best man to ensure a democratic and open process of bidding and that England's case will be given a very fair hearing."

England's move to support Blatter in yesterday's election, when he stood as the long-term protege of 85year-old Havelange, infuriated Johansson. The Swede threatened, in a move seen as a stinging rebuff, to severely dilute the dominant influence the four Home Countries have held on the International Board of the game's rule makers for more than a century if he was to become FIFA boss.