ALREADY the FA media machine is starting to rumble into life and the old arrogance is still seeping through at the edge, England's 2018 World Cup bid has already started to annoy me.

From my own club, Aston Villa, to Argentinians Ossie Ardilles and Ricky Villa, anyone who has ever kicked a ball on our sceptre isle has thrown their weight behind England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup (apart from the Scots, of course).

Now I am split by this. My heart patriotically swells at the very thought of welcoming the cream of the world's best team to play here.

It's an exciting prospect, seeing Germany or Brazil, or even the likes of Cameroon and Egypt at Villa Park (if Villa are selecting) is a thrilling idea. The national sides will bring some much-needed distraction from the glitzy cynicism of the Premier League.

I remember Euro 96, when Scottish and Dutch fans milled around Birmingham city centre in a friendly clash of styles that wasn't easy on the eye but certainly warmed the heart.

However, it's not the visiting supporters I am worried about, it's England's.

The reputation of the English football fan has largely improved and as a country we've sent out waves of happy, slightly drunk people to Portugal, Japan, South Korea and even Germany without any major problems.

Unless you've stayed at home and get left with the 'fans' who aren't allowed to travel.

Watching England matches in a pub is like sitting in a bear pit with your feet in big jar of honey. Yes it's exhilarating but there's always the danger that emotions will spill over and there will be big trouble.

My fear is that a World Cup in England will only intensify the aspects of supporting the national team that I detest. The jingoism, mis-placed arrogance, alcohol-fulled aggression and of course angry depression that leads to violence if we lose.

Everyone remembers Euro 96 as a triumph but what about the riots after England lost to Germany? The death of several foreigners because they might be German? I do not wish that to happen again and it could destroy our hard-earned reputation as football's most passionate fans.

So while the politicians, clubs and players get behind the idea, just remember that there's more than just the World Cup at stake, there's our national reputation too.