Southgate: WAGS welcome in Russia
GARETH SOUTHGATE will welcome the WAGS into the England camp if they qualify for the World Cup in Russia.
Sven Goran Eriksson’s 2006 campaign turned into a circus when WAGS including Victoria Beckham, Cheryl Cole and Coleen Rooney got as much attention as the players. Fabio Capello’s training camp in 2010 was regarded as a prison camp. Southgate will try to strike the right balance.
‘I’ll encourage the families to come and see the lads the day after games. For some players that’s important and we want that environment where the players are relaxed.
‘It becomes a bubble when there’s nothing else in your life. If they can get out of the hotel at certain times, great, but that’s not always easy.’
GARETH SOUTHGATE will welcome the WAGs into the England camp if they qualify for next year’s World Cup.
Sven Goran Eriksson’s relaxed 2006 campaign turned into a circus at Baden-Baden, while disciplinarian Fabio Capello’s training camp at Rustenburg in South Africa four years later was likened to a prison camp.
Roy Hodgson’s decision to allow Wayne Rooney an extended holiday in Las Vegas before Euro 2012 backfired when he lost fitness.
Southgate will try to strike the right balance in Russia. He has decided that England will take over a whole hotel to ensure privacy but is keen to allow visits from WAGs and families to keep players from going stir crazy.
‘I will encourage the families to come and see the lads the day after games. For some players that is