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Baden-Baden was labelled a circus - so is allowing the WAGs along to the 2014 World Cup a mistake?

Roy Hodgson has said he is open to the players' wives and girlfriends joining England in Brazil

Simon Rice
Friday 28 February 2014 12:50 EST
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Cheryl Cole and Victoria Beckham (right) at the World Cup in 2006 in Germany
Cheryl Cole and Victoria Beckham (right) at the World Cup in 2006 in Germany (Getty Images)

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Having been practically banished from the last World Cup by former England manager and authoritarian Fabio Capello, the WAGs could be back for Brazil.

England manager Roy Hodgson signalled yesterday that he was open to the players' wives and girlfriends coming along for the pre-tournament warm-up in Miami and then the carnival itself in Brazil.

"In Miami, we have invited the players, or suggested to the players, that their wives could come for the later part of the stay there," said Hodgson.

"When it comes to Brazil, we haven't made any hard and fast rules. It will be up to the players to decide, presumably around the games more than anything else, if they want to bring their wives there."

The former Fulham and Liverpool manager has looked to give the players more responsibility for their own actions than his predecessor, but is allowing the likes of Coleen Rooney and Christine Bleakley to come along a good idea?

The 2006 World Cup was labelled "a circus" after self professed ladies man and then England manager Sven Goran Eriksson allowed Victoria Beckham, Cheryl Cole and others to join the team in the exclusive region of Baden-Baden during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

With more stories about shopping trips and outfits than football, many viewed the decision to let the players' partners join the team a mistake.

However, with few expecting anything but the familiar tale of World Cup woe for England in Brazil, perhaps a distraction isn't the worst thing.

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