Baden-Baden 20 years later: When WAGs and journalists clash at the 2006 World Cup in Germany

In the second installment of our World Cup untold stories series, we take a behind-the-scenes look at the journalists who covered the 2006 tournament in Germany.

As we countdown to this summer’s World Cup, we’re launching a new series that takes you behind the scenes of key moments and untold stories from recent tournaments from 2002 to 2022.

WAG’s origins preceded further heartbreaking events in England

Andy Dunn: As a group of journalists checked into comfortable accommodation in a German spa town, representatives from the Football Association couldn’t have been more surprised.

She happened to be waiting to check in another group of guests at Brenner’s Park Hotel and Spa in Baden-Baden.

The other group of guests included the wives, girlfriends and families of England’s 2006 World Cup team.

According to the brochure, Brenner’s Park Hotel and Spa is “a place where nature, culture and well-being come together.”

For three weeks in early summer 20 years ago, Victoria Beckham, Cheryl Cole and many reporters gathered here.

When several senior reporters from various national newspapers decided on this particular hotel as a base to cover England’s fortunes at the 2006 tournament in Germany, we had no idea that a group later known as the ‘Wives and Girlfriends’ (WAG), and even relatives and friends of the players, would also be there.

Initially it was suggested that we find alternative accommodation. We laughed at the idea and settled for living with a WAG instead.

To say it was surreal is an understatement.

As I left my hotel for a coffee and a stroll in Germany’s classiest retreat town, I was greeted by a swarm of paparazzi.

With the likes of Sheryl, Victoria, Coleen (then McLoughlin, now Rooney), Carly Zucker (Joe Cole’s partner), Alex Curran and Ellen Rivas (Frank Lampard’s first wife) out and about, the snappers were having a field day.

Meanwhile, inside Brenner’s Park Hotel and Spa, a group of journalists and a family of players learned to live with each other and even learn to enjoy it.

Neville Neville, Gary and Phil’s father, was great company. However, Gary was less than happy when his father was photographed in good spirits after a night out at Italian restaurant Garibaldi, which became the WAG’s unofficial social hub.

The players and management team were again led by Sven-Goran Eriksson, whose partner Nancy Dell’Orio was active in the social world and based at the Schlosshotel Bühlerhohe in the Black Forest, 30 minutes from Brenners Park.

Occasionally they would appear unexpectedly at the circus that became Baden-Baden, looking dissatisfied.

opinion

Andy Dunn

Gary Neville later said, “Elite sports teams shouldn’t be distracted. It was the World Cup. We had an incredible distraction. It was just nonsense.”

In a way, Gary was right.

And this nonsense was not limited to the WAG association in Baden-Baden.

Wayne Rooney broke three metatarsals in his foot during the match between Manchester United and Chelsea at the end of April, but he still joined the team.

Legend has it that after Rooney was sent home for tests to make sure he was safe, he returned to his base in the Black Forest and declared: “The big man is back.”

Sadly, the big man was sent off in the quarter-final against Portugal, with Eriksson’s side losing on penalties after a goalless draw.

Much of our attention was focused on Cristiano Ronaldo’s send-off wink, but the truth is England were unconvincing throughout the tournament.

It was revealed that Rooney also suffered a minor laceration to his groin during the tournament. It was a rather disappointing and somewhat disappointing result for David Beckham to be confirmed as England captain.

The end of the Eriksson era was announced earlier this year, and after the last eight exit, we were called to England’s final press conference from the WAG Hotel, where Beckham tearfully announced he was relinquishing the armband.

Beckham injured his Achilles tendon early in the second half and was forced out of the game against Portugal earlier than Rooney.

The final days of Baden-Baden felt like the end of an era, as Steve McLaren was set to begin his reign.

As for hosting the 2006 World Cup alone, it was a failure.

The WAG phenomenon cannot be blamed for England’s departure. It would certainly be a bit of a stretch to suggest that it was some kind of definitive distraction.

But England’s 2006 campaign was actually more about the antics of Victoria, Coleen, Cheryl, Carly and Alex than the antics of their partners.

And, as Neville will certainly say, that was nonsense.

“The House of Scouse” and “The Garibaldi Affair”

Written by Andy Lines:

It wasn’t just WAGs like Steven Gerrard’s wife Alex Curran, Franks Lampard’s then-wife Ellen Rivas, Michael Carrick’s girlfriend Lisa Roughead and Joe Cole’s girlfriend Carly Zucker.

This just scratches the surface of the number of wives and girlfriends who partied at Garibaldi’s in Baden-Baden in 2006.

There was also Ashley Cole’s mother, Gary and Phil Neville’s father, Sven-Goran Eriksson’s sons and David Beckham’s sister Joanne. And most of Jamie Carragher’s family had defected from a nearby infamous bar called ‘The House of Scouse’. The list was endless.

It was chaos and carnage. And it was, for the most part, a lot of fun.

Garibaldi’s was chosen as a popular bar during the 2006 World Cup, dubbed “WAGs Central.”

HQ Garibaldi’s was the place to be on most nights when England weren’t playing and the team was back in their fancy hotels.

Generally, reporters occupied the right side of the bar, drinking beer, while WAGS sat at a table on the left, drinking champagne.

One memorable night, one of the WAGs made unreasonable complaints about me and called security and told them to kick me out. A whole group of English families, maybe 30 or 40 people, were yelling “Cheerios, Cheerios, Cheerios” as a bouncer politely escorted me out of the bar.

I looked over and saw my buddy Don Wolcott, Theo’s father, joining in, catching my eye and waving enthusiastically to see me off.

Make us your preferred source to ensure the latest sports headlines always appear at the top of your Google searches. Click here to enable or add us as a preferred source in your Google search settings

But as soon as I stepped outside, I met the bar’s owner, Carmine Tortola. He immediately said: “This man is my friend. He’s not gone. You bring him back – now.”

What WAGS didn’t know was that I had been to Garibaldi’s first store – I arrived a week before the tournament started, and Carmine and I hit it off. As I walked back, the press corps cheered and sang, “He’s back, he’s back.”

That was just one event in this crazy month.

It seems like a completely different era than now.

Walking around town during the day, you might bump into Victoria Beckham, Sven’s partner Nancy Dell’Orio, or Wayne Rooney’s girlfriend Coleen. One player’s wife was always outside McDonald’s asking her kids if they wanted “Mussy Dees.”

We played soccer on the lawn behind England’s hotel with some of the players’ relatives.

There was also an affair, a bust-up, and a fight with a paparazzi photographer.

As Garibaldi’s night wore on, WAGs and reporters sang to each other. I remember Gary and Phil’s dad, Neville Neville, being very fun and especially energetic.

I remember Man United manager Michael Carrick’s girlfriend Lisa Roguehead whispering “thank you” at the end of one night when I started chanting “The Only Michael Carrick”.

But it all came to a very abrupt end. We lost to Portugal in a penalty shootout.

After the match, on his way back to Baden-Baden dejected, he entered the hotel bar and encountered a crying German. It was Garibaldi’s bartender. He was crying uncontrollably.

I put my arm around him and told him it wasn’t that bad. All he said was, “The best three weeks of my life are over. Nothing like this will ever happen again.”

Who will win the World Cup? Share your opinion below.

If you don’t see the survey, click here.