Jump directly to the content
Here Wag go!

Wags have set tongues wagging in years gone by – will Russia 2018 be the same?

The Wags were banned from the players in South Africa 2010 after causing a distraction in Germany 2006 with £4,000 shopping spree and showdowns in nightclubs

THE Eastern Bloc is set to get a lot warmer as ­Gareth Southgate has given permission for his stars to bring their Wags to the World Cup in Russia.

The England boss said yesterday: “I will absolutely encourage families to come and see the lads after a game.”

 Posh Spice, left, leads Wags with, second right, Michael Owen’s wife, Louise, flanked by Wayne Rooney’s Coleen and Elen Rivas, Frank Lampard’s ex , in 2006
20
Posh Spice, left, leads Wags with, second right, Michael Owen’s wife, Louise, flanked by Wayne Rooney’s Coleen and Elen Rivas, Frank Lampard’s ex , in 2006Credit: Associated Newspapers
 The England boss said that he will 'absolutely encourage families to come and see the lads after a game'
20
The England boss said that he will 'absolutely encourage families to come and see the lads after a game'Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Footballers’ partners were banned in 2010 and almost axed before Brazil 2014.

Now England’s glamorous other halves can look forward to Russia next summer.

But will current Wags such as Dele Alli’s girlfriend Ruby Mae be as much of a distraction as their predecessors?

Here, we look back at the wives and girlfriends who set tongues wagging.

GERMANY 2006

Photographers followed every move of DAVID BECKHAM’s wife VICTORIA, ASHLEY COLE’s other half CHERYL, PETER CROUCH’s ­girlfriend ABBEY CLANCY and WAYNE ROONEY’s partner COLEEN as the original Wags glammed it up in sleepy Baden Baden. On one spree, the girls blew £4,000 in an hour on shopping and drinking.

 Photographers followed every move of the Wags when they were in Germany in 2006
20
Photographers followed every move of the Wags when they were in Germany in 2006Credit: PA:Press Association
 Cheryl and Victoria Beckham during a particularly tense moment of the the 2006 campaign
20
Cheryl and Victoria Beckham during a particularly tense moment of the the 2006 campaignCredit: AP:Associated Press
 The Wags blew £4,000 on shopping and drinking in one hour during one spree
20
The Wags blew £4,000 on shopping and drinking in one hour during one spreeCredit: AFP

ELEN RIVASFRANK LAMPARD’s then-fiancée — ended a showdown in a nightclub by shouting “f*** off” at locals.

The team crashed out in the quarter finals. RIO ­FERDINAND said later: “People worried more about

what they were wearing than the games.”

SOUTH AFRICA 2010

After failing to qualify for Euro 2008, England boss FABIO CAPELLO cut Wags’ time with his stars to just one day.

 Dele Alli's girlfriend Ruby Mae will hopefully be in Russia for the World Cup
20
Dele Alli's girlfriend Ruby Mae will hopefully be in Russia for the World CupCredit: Focus Images
 One of the nights the Wags went out it ended in a nightclub showdown as a local was told to 'f*** off'
20
One of the nights the Wags went out it ended in a nightclub showdown as a local was told to 'f*** off'Credit: Empics
 Ruby Mae is a 22-year-old model
20
Ruby Mae is a 22-year-old modelCredit: Refer to Caption
 Ruby Mae and Dele Alli have been an item since the summer of 2016
20
Ruby Mae and Dele Alli have been an item since the summer of 2016Credit: Refer to Caption

The ladies were said to have complained — and the ban did not work. Germany’s 4-1 win sent a humbled England crashing out.

POLAND & UKRAINE 2012

Boss ROY HODGSON gave Wags the chance to stroll around Krakow with their partners. Coleen Rooney paid £14,000 for a private jet to visit her man.

 Coleen Rooney with her son on their way to the Euros in Poland in 2012
20
Coleen Rooney with her son on their way to the Euros in Poland in 2012Credit: Neil Jones - The Sun
 Cheryl and Ashley Cole split up in 2010 amid claims that he cheated on her
20
Cheryl and Ashley Cole split up in 2010 amid claims that he cheated on herCredit: PA:Press Association
 Ruby Mae went on holiday to Ibiza while Dele Alli went on holiday to America
20
Ruby Mae went on holiday to Ibiza while Dele Alli went on holiday to AmericaCredit: Instagram
 The model supported Dele at the 2016 Euros after England lost to Iceland
20
The model supported Dele at the 2016 Euros after England lost to IcelandCredit: Refer to Caption

Italy beat England in the Euro tournament’s quarter finals.

BRAZIL 2014

After dithering on whether the Wags should be allowed on the pre-tournament tour, Hodgson let them go to Brazil.

 The Wags were upstaged in the 2014 World Cup with Shakira, who is dating Spain's Gerard Pique
20
The Wags were upstaged in the 2014 World Cup with Shakira, who is dating Spain's Gerard PiqueCredit: Getty Images - Getty

But they were upstaged by Colombian singer SHAKIRA — dating Spain’s GERARD PIQUE — and CRISTIANO RONALDO’s Russian model girlfriend IRINA SHAYK. The team were thumped by Italy and Uruguay.

 Ruby Mae could be a distraction like her predecessors were
20
Ruby Mae could be a distraction like her predecessors wereCredit: Refer to Caption
 Coleen Rooney during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, two years before she married Wayne Rooney
20
Coleen Rooney during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, two years before she married Wayne RooneyCredit: Getty Images - Getty
 Michael Owen met his wife Louise when they were in primary school in 1984
20
Michael Owen met his wife Louise when they were in primary school in 1984Credit: Getty - Contributor
 Cheryl, Victoria Beckham, and her son Brooklyn watching England play Ecuador in the Round of 16 during the World Cup in Germany
20
Cheryl, Victoria Beckham, and her son Brooklyn watching England play Ecuador in the Round of 16 during the World Cup in GermanyCredit: AP:Associated Press
 In previous World Cups other Wags have gotten more attention
20
In previous World Cups other Wags have gotten more attentionCredit: PA:Press Association
 After England crashed out in the quarter finals of the World Cup in Germany, Rio Ferdinand said people cared more about what the Wags were wearing to the games
20
After England crashed out in the quarter finals of the World Cup in Germany, Rio Ferdinand said people cared more about what the Wags were wearing to the gamesCredit: ddp/DDP