How Gareth Southgate hopes to avoid a repeat of the WAG circus which overshadowed England’s 2006 World Cup… as Three Lions boss sets out plans for his team’s HQ at Euro 2024
- Gareth Southgate has targeted a secluded base in Germany next summer
- England boss wants to avoid a repeat of the WAG circus at 2006 World Cup
- Trent and Bellingham can play together but can’t get in each other’s way – IAKO
Gareth Southgate has targeted a secluded base in Germany next summer to avoid a repeat of the WAG circus that overshadowed England’s 2006 World Cup.
England staff are identifying a location for the team’s Euro 2024 HQ after Monday’s 1-1 draw in North Macedonia drew their qualification campaign to a close.
The tournament is the first to be held in Germany since that World Cup and will invoke memories of the chaotic campaign under Sven Goran Eriksson.
Eriksson’s side were famously based in Baden-Baden as England crashed out to Portugal in the quarter-finals. But their performances were overshadowed by the social escapades of the squad’s wives and girlfriends, who became front-page news during the tournament and were accused of being a distraction to the players.
Asked whether he’d want a repeat of what happened in 2006, Southgate replied: ‘No. I wasn’t involved in that tournament so I don’t know how all that was but we have a great environment with our players.
Victoria Beckham, Cheryl Tweedy and Coleen Rooney (then McLoughlin) watch England at 2006 World Cup
L-R: Victoria Beckham Coleen Rooney’s Sister, Coleen Rooney, Louise Owen and Elen Rivas – then fiance Of Frank Lampard in 2006
L-R; Kieran Trippier’s wife Charlotte; Jordan Pickford’s fiancé Megan Davison; Harry Maguire’s fiancé Fern Hawkins; Kyle Walker’s wife Annie Kilner and Luke Shaw’s girlfriend Anouska Santos (pictured in 2023)
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‘We want their families to be able to go and enjoy the tournament as well. We normally welcome them in at various times. It changes the dynamic of the hotel, especially if the kids come in, and those elements are important for the players.’
Southgate has also indicated England are likely to avoid basing themselves in big cities such as Berlin and Hamburg, in favour of a quieter hideaway.
‘Really we want somewhere where we can be a little bit on our own,’ he explained.
‘We need that nice contrast of relaxation and areas where we can work. You want to minimise travel where you can but within the FA our staff are really good at picking venues that the players will enjoy and feel comfortable in.
‘You want to be somewhere where you can zone out from everything that’s going on around you, but somewhere with good facilities.’
England will enter Euro 2024 as one of the favourites following an undefeated qualifying campaign. They will find out their group-stage opponents on Saturday, December 2.
‘It doesn’t matter who we draw, in the end,’ Southgate added. ‘In Euro 2020 we had Croatia in with us, who proved to be one of the best teams in the world over the last few years, and we managed to navigate that. We’ve just got to be ready for whatever comes our way.’
Tweedy was in attendance for the World Cup in 2006 to watch then husband Ashley Cole
England boss Gareth Southgate has targeted a secluded base in Germany next summer
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