England stars being stored aside from WAGs to keep away from Baden-Baden ‘circus’
England’s WAGs looked a little glum last night after agreeing to keep their distance from the players to avoid the chaos which has blighted past tournaments.
Dani Dyer, who is dating West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, Olivia Naylor, girlfriend of John Stones, Charlotte Trippier, who is married to Kieran Trippier and Jordan Pickford‘s wife Megan were far from their usual exuberant selves for most of the game against Serbia.
The WAGs are being kept apart from their partners and husbands during this Euros tournament with England manager Gareth Southgate keen to avoid the media circus in Baden-Baden that overshadowed the team’s World Cup in Germany in 2006.
Back then the WAGS were criticised for diverting players’ attention from the football by dining out, swigging champagne in local bars, shopping and staying in luxury hotels near the team hotel.
FA insiders insist that lessons have been learned since 2006 – and consequently England will diplomatically keep the women at a distance, but offer them opportunities to meet with the football stars when considered appropriate – according to the fixture and training schedule.
England’s WAGs looked somewhat dejected at the Three Lions’ opener. Pictured is Dani Dyer, who is dating West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen
Kyle Walker’s wife Annie Kilner also looked a little glum as it emerged the WAGs are having to keep their distance from the players
Oliva Naylor, John Stones’ girlfriend, watches England’s first Euros game last night. The WAGs were far from their usual exuberant selves for most of the game
Megan Davinson was spotted wearing a cropped England shirt with her husband Jordan Pickford’s number one on
Bukayo Saka’s partner Tolami Benson also did not seem in high spirits for England’s Euros opener
The players are staying at the Weimarer Land Golf and Spa resort in Blankenhain – costing around £800,000 with all 94 rooms secured by the FA.
It’s not clear where the WAGs are based but they are not thought to be in Germany full-time and are instead flying back and forth from England between games.
Despite the frowns during the match, the smiles returned after manager Gareth Southgate backed the players to enter the stands after the 1-0 victory to greet their partners and family members.
Some took to social media to upload their photos.
The partners of Ollie Watkins and Bukayo Saka both posted on Instagram from inside the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen during England’s nervy 1-0 win over Serbia – along with Lewis Dunk’s wife, Abigail.
Ellie Alderson, 28, girlfriend of Aston Villa striker Watkins, wore a white England shirt with his name on the back – and posted a photo with her twin sister Sofie before the match.
Afterwards she posted a black and white photo of her hugging the England striker along with two heart emojis.
Saka’s girlfriend Tolami Benson was also in the stands last night to watch her Arsenal star boyfriend. She wore a leather England jacket with the number 87 on it, Saka’s shirt number when he began playing for Arsenal.
The thinking behind the WAG ban is to prevent a repeat of tournaments such as Germany 2006, where the WAGs were a big distraction. Pictured: Vanessa Perroncel, Lisa Roughead, Micheala Henderson-Thynne, Elen Rivas and Carly Zucker, left-right)
The WAGs became the sole focus of press attention due to their raucous behaviour in 2006 (pictured Alex Curran , Joanne Beckham, Wayne’s sister and Coleen)
Michaela Henderson-Thynne, Stewart Downing’s wife, And Elen Rives, then partner of Frank Lampard, Returning From Garibaldi’s Bar
No WAG lover could forget the iconic 2006 Baden-Baden World Cup, where football took a backseat to the hard-partying, designer-loving WAGs and their wild ways. Pictured L-R: Victoria Beckham, Unknown, Coleen (wife of Wayne), Louise Owen (wife of Michael Owen) and Elen Rives (then-fiancée of Frank Lampard)
Vanessa Peroncel, Carly Zucker, Cheryl Tweedy and Victoria Beckham watch England’s ill-fated quarter-final match in July 2006
The graphic shows the WAGs who caused major distractions at the 2006 World Cup in Germany
Alex Curran (left) and Carly Zucker (right) are seen in Baden Baden
During the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Posh Spice was often seen pitchside with fellow popstar Cheryl Cole
Coleen McLoughlin , Elen Rives, then girlfriend of Frank Lampard, Lisa Roughead, girlfriend of Michael Carrick and Carly Zucker then girlfriend of Joe Cole, enjoy a ride with roller coaster Silverstar at the Europapark in Rust
Victoria Beckham was among the wives and girlfriends who descended on Germany during the tournament, drawing attention away from the team (Victoria and David pictured in 2006)
Tolami watched the game with her friend Kemi Afolayan, who was seen in another photo wearing a retro England top.
Abigail Dunk watched the game with the couple’s three children – who all wore England shirts with their father’s surname and his number 15 squad number on the back.
Their mood may be lightened even further as a source close to the camp has revealed that the WAGs have set a Whatsapp group for the partners to communicate during the Euros.
They said the WAGs hope that they will be allowed to spend 24 hours with the players if they beat Denmark on Thursday night – and secure early qualification from Group C to reach the second round.
The WAGs looked happier when their partners were allowed in the stands after. Harry Kane kisses his wife Kate Goodland after England’s match against Serbia last night
Dani Dyer looked in better spirits as she was joined in the stands by her boyfriend Jarrod Bowen after the match
The partners of Ollie Watkins and Bukayo Saka, Ellie Alderson and Tolami Benson, both posted on Instagram from inside the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen during England’s nervy 1-0 win over Serbia
Saka’s girlfriend Tolami Benson wore a leather England jacket with the number 87 on it, Saka’s shirt number when he began playing for Arsenal
Lewis Dunk’s wife Abigail also posted a touching photo of her husband with their kids in the stands
The source told MailOnline: ‘The women know football has to be the players’ focus, but a few of the WAGs have said they hope Gareth will invite them to spend a day and a night with the team once they have qualified from the group.
‘They know this can only happen if the team are doing well and have qualified from the group. If they beat Denmark, then there’s almost a week before they play Slovenia in the third match.’
In Qatar at the 2022 World Cup, Southgate invited the women, children and other family members into the England base camp at Al Wakrah beach outside Doha as the team progressed.
The Football Association has worked with diplomacy towards the players’ families and helped with tickets and tasked aides to support them with entering grounds.
