Bring on the WAGs! England boss allows players to have their partners at the World Cup.

Unlike many other managers, England manager, Gareth Southgate has approved the presence of wives, girlfriends and families of players at the World Cup in Russia next summer.  Although the Three Lions need a point to seal qualification for the global tournament, preparations are already underway. Southgate would like his players to take over an entire hotel to ensure privacy in Russia, but says relatives will be allowed to visit at selected times.

“I don’t think there’s ever been a tournament where the whole family has been in with us the whole time, but I will encourage the families to come and the lads to see them the day after a game.” said the England boss.

“We want that environment where the players are relaxed, otherwise it becomes a bubble where there’s nothing else in your life and the small things become bigger than they should be. You don’t want to get into a situation when players don’t hear anything new and are just talking about the ­tournament and training. If the lads can get out of the hotel at certain times, then great – although that’s not always easy.”

 

The presence of WAGs at the World Cup has proved controversial in the past with high-profile partners like Victoria Beckham, Cheryl Cole and Coleen Rooney stealing the limelight in Germany in 2006. In 2010, the Three Lions were hit with a sex ban by Fabio Capello who banned wives and girlfriends from tournaments because he thought they were distracting.
With Gareth Southgate’s invitation, WAGs would definitely pull the paparazzi to Russia. Harry Kane’s fiancee, Kate Goodland, Dele Alli’s model girlfriend, Ruby Mae, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s famous girlfriend, Pierre Edwards, Jamie Vardy’s wife, Rebecca and many others would most likely be storming the World Cup in style.