{"id":23530,"date":"2026-02-19T00:50:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T00:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/19\/baden-baden-20-years-later-when-wags-and-journalists-clash-at-the-2006-world-cup-in-germany\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T00:50:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T00:50:24","slug":"baden-baden-20-years-later-when-wags-and-journalists-clash-at-the-2006-world-cup-in-germany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/19\/baden-baden-20-years-later-when-wags-and-journalists-clash-at-the-2006-world-cup-in-germany\/","title":{"rendered":"Baden-Baden 20 years later: When WAGs and journalists clash at the 2006 World Cup in Germany"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_3cf6ec\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">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.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">February 18, 2026, 13:44<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated February 18, 2026 13:47<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36739664\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36739664.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_MirrorWags.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36739664.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_MirrorWags.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36739664.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_MirrorWags.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36739664.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_MirrorWags.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As we countdown to this summer&#8217;s World Cup, we&#8217;re launching a new series that takes you behind the scenes of key moments and untold stories from recent tournaments from 2002 to 2022.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs  __className_690a12\">WAG&#8217;s origins preceded further heartbreaking events in England<\/h3>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Andy Dunn: As a group of journalists checked into comfortable accommodation in a German spa town, representatives from the Football Association couldn&#8217;t have been more surprised.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She happened to be waiting to check in another group of guests at Brenner&#8217;s Park Hotel and Spa in Baden-Baden.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The other group of guests included the wives, girlfriends and families of England&#8217;s 2006 World Cup team.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">According to the brochure, Brenner&#8217;s Park Hotel and Spa is &#8220;a place where nature, culture and well-being come together.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">For three weeks in early summer 20 years ago, Victoria Beckham, Cheryl Cole and many reporters gathered here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">When several senior reporters from various national newspapers decided on this particular hotel as a base to cover England&#8217;s fortunes at the 2006 tournament in Germany, we had no idea that a group later known as the &#8216;Wives and Girlfriends&#8217; (WAG), and even relatives and friends of the players, would also be there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Initially it was suggested that we find alternative accommodation. We laughed at the idea and settled for living with a WAG instead.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36660920\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36660920\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.37\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ashley Cole's girlfriend, singer Cheryl Tweedy, and England captain David Beckham's wife Victoria Beckham attend the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany Group B match between England and Trinidad and Tobago.\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36660920.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-71210520.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36660920.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-71210520.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36660920.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-71210520.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36660920.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-71210520.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Cheryl and Victoria Beckham were amongst those who travelled to support their partners at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, as the WAG acronym was coined during England's run to the quarter-finals\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Cheryl and Victoria Beckham were among those who traveled to cheer on their partners at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and the WAG acronym was coined as England reached the quarter-finals (Image: Ross Kinnaird\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">To say it was surreal is an understatement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As I left my hotel for a coffee and a stroll in Germany&#8217;s classiest retreat town, I was greeted by a swarm of paparazzi.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">With the likes of Sheryl, Victoria, Coleen (then McLoughlin, now Rooney), Carly Zucker (Joe Cole&#8217;s partner), Alex Curran and Ellen Rivas (Frank Lampard&#8217;s first wife) out and about, the snappers were having a field day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Meanwhile, inside Brenner&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Neville Neville, Gary and Phil&#8217;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&#8217;s unofficial social hub.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The players and management team were again led by Sven-Goran Eriksson, whose partner Nancy Dell&#8217;Orio was active in the social world and based at the Schlosshotel B\u00fchlerhohe in the Black Forest, 30 minutes from Brenners Park.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Occasionally they would appear unexpectedly at the circus that became Baden-Baden, looking dissatisfied.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"opinion-teaser-image\" class=\"Teaser_cover-wrapper__VVV7O\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36664024.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s650\/0_DM_Untold-stories-copy.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"label-text\" class=\"Label_text__tRLWj\">opinion<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"OpinionTeaser_content-wrapper__TVVPL OpinionTeaser_large__m6_Lk\">\n<div data-testid=\"teaser-author\" class=\"TeaserAuthor_author__h_bIR TeaserAuthor_large__QjYde\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article2205697.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s338a\/andy_dunn.png\" alt=\"Author avatar\"\/><span class=\"TeaserAuthor_author-name__YmKL2\">Andy Dunn<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gary Neville later said, &#8220;Elite sports teams shouldn&#8217;t be distracted. It was the World Cup. We had an incredible distraction. It was just nonsense.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In a way, Gary was right.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And this nonsense was not limited to the WAG association in Baden-Baden.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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: &#8220;The big man is back.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sadly, the big man was sent off in the quarter-final against Portugal, with Eriksson&#8217;s side losing on penalties after a goalless draw.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36660987\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36660987\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.49\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"England's Wayne Rooney shown red card and sent off by referee Horacio Elizondo\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36660987.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2147897499.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36660987.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2147897499.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36660987.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2147897499.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36660987.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2147897499.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Wayne Rooney saw red as England crashed out of the 2006 World Cup at the quarter-final stage against Portugal\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Wayne Rooney blushed as England were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup against Portugal (Image: Stewart Kendall\/Sportsphoto\/Allstar via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Much of our attention was focused on Cristiano Ronaldo&#8217;s send-off wink, but the truth is England were unconvincing throughout the tournament.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The end of the Eriksson era was announced earlier this year, and after the last eight exit, we were called to England&#8217;s final press conference from the WAG Hotel, where Beckham tearfully announced he was relinquishing the armband.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Beckham injured his Achilles tendon early in the second half and was forced out of the game against Portugal earlier than Rooney.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36661025\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36661025\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.27\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"David Beckham announces his resignation as England captain during training camp in B\u00fchlertal (2 July 2006)\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36661025.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-1251913924.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36661025.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-1251913924.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36661025.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-1251913924.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36661025.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-1251913924.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"David Beckham tearfully stepped down as England's' captain after the disappointment of 2006's World Cup quarter-final exit (Photo by Adrian DENNIS \/ AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS\/AFP via Getty Images)          \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">David Beckham tearfully resigns as England captain following the disappointment of losing in the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup (Photo: Adrian Dennis\/AFP) (Photo: Adrian Dennis\/AFP via Getty Images) (Image: Adrian Dennis\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The final days of Baden-Baden felt like the end of an era, as Steve McLaren was set to begin his reign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As for hosting the 2006 World Cup alone, it was a failure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The WAG phenomenon cannot be blamed for England&#8217;s departure. It would certainly be a bit of a stretch to suggest that it was some kind of definitive distraction.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But England&#8217;s 2006 campaign was actually more about the antics of Victoria, Coleen, Cheryl, Carly and Alex than the antics of their partners.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And, as Neville will certainly say, that was nonsense.<\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"embed-placeholder\" class=\"EmbedPlaceholder_figure__NLMFl undefined false\"><figcaption>Content cannot be displayed without consent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs  __className_690a12\">&#8220;The House of Scouse&#8221; and &#8220;The Garibaldi Affair&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Written by Andy Lines:<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It wasn&#8217;t just WAGs like Steven Gerrard&#8217;s wife Alex Curran, Franks Lampard&#8217;s then-wife Ellen Rivas, Michael Carrick&#8217;s girlfriend Lisa Roughead and Joe Cole&#8217;s girlfriend Carly Zucker.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This just scratches the surface of the number of wives and girlfriends who partied at Garibaldi&#8217;s in Baden-Baden in 2006.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">There was also Ashley Cole&#8217;s mother, Gary and Phil Neville&#8217;s father, Sven-Goran Eriksson&#8217;s sons and David Beckham&#8217;s sister Joanne. And most of Jamie Carragher&#8217;s family had defected from a nearby infamous bar called &#8216;The House of Scouse&#8217;. The list was endless.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It was chaos and carnage. And it was, for the most part, a lot of fun.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Garibaldi&#8217;s was chosen as a popular bar during the 2006 World Cup, dubbed &#8220;WAGs Central.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">HQ Garibaldi&#8217;s was the place to be on most nights when England weren&#8217;t playing and the team was back in their fancy hotels.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36666829\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36666829\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.33\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"England players Carly Zucker (left), Alex Curran (second from left) and Lisa Roughead (far right), wife and girlfriend enjoy a night out at a restaurant and local bar\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36666829.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-74794128.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36666829.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-74794128.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36666829.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-74794128.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36666829.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-74794128.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Carly Zucker (left), Alex Curran (2nd from left), and Lisa Roughead (far right) as the England WAGs enjoy a night out in Baden-Baden\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Carly Zucker (left), Alex Curran (second from left) and Lisa Roughead (far right), England WAGs enjoying a night out in Baden-Baden (Image: Chris Uncle\/FilmM)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Generally, reporters occupied the right side of the bar, drinking beer, while WAGS sat at a table on the left, drinking champagne.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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 &#8220;Cheerios, Cheerios, Cheerios&#8221; as a bouncer politely escorted me out of the bar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">I looked over and saw my buddy Don Wolcott, Theo&#8217;s father, joining in, catching my eye and waving enthusiastically to see me off.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But as soon as I stepped outside, I met the bar&#8217;s owner, Carmine Tortola. He immediately said: &#8220;This man is my friend. He&#8217;s not gone. You bring him back &#8211; now.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">What WAGS didn&#8217;t know was that I had been to Garibaldi&#8217;s first store &#8211; 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, &#8220;He&#8217;s back, he&#8217;s back.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">That was just one event in this crazy month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It seems like a completely different era than now.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Walking around town during the day, you might bump into Victoria Beckham, Sven&#8217;s partner Nancy Dell&#8217;Orio, or Wayne Rooney&#8217;s girlfriend Coleen. One player&#8217;s wife was always outside McDonald&#8217;s asking her kids if they wanted &#8220;Mussy Dees.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36666798\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36666798\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.42\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Coleen McLoughlin (C), girlfriend of England soccer player Wayne Rooney, is photographed by a fan on her way to her hotel in Baden-Baden, Germany, June 23, 2006.\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36666798.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-71281452.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36666798.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-71281452.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36666798.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-71281452.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36666798.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-71281452.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Coleen (McLoughlin then, Rooney now) photographed by fans as she walks through Baden-Baden\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Coleen (then McLoughlin, now Rooney) is photographed by a fan walking through Baden-Baden (Image: Peter Macdiarmid\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">We played soccer on the lawn behind England&#8217;s hotel with some of the players&#8217; relatives.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">There was also an affair, a bust-up, and a fight with a paparazzi photographer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As Garibaldi&#8217;s night wore on, WAGs and reporters sang to each other. I remember Gary and Phil&#8217;s dad, Neville Neville, being very fun and especially energetic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">I remember Man United manager Michael Carrick&#8217;s girlfriend Lisa Roguehead whispering &#8220;thank you&#8221; at the end of one night when I started chanting &#8220;The Only Michael Carrick&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But it all came to a very abrupt end. We lost to Portugal in a penalty shootout.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">After the match, on his way back to Baden-Baden dejected, he entered the hotel bar and encountered a crying German. It was Garibaldi&#8217;s bartender. He was crying uncontrollably.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">I put my arm around him and told him it wasn&#8217;t that bad. All he said was, &#8220;The best three weeks of my life are over. Nothing like this will ever happen again.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Who will win the World Cup? Share your opinion below.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">If you don&#8217;t see the survey, click here.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/world-cup-wags-baden-baden-36660205\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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. February 18, 2026, 13:44Updated February 18, 2026 13:47 As we countdown to this summer&#8217;s World Cup, we&#8217;re launching a new series that takes you behind the scenes of key<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23531,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-23530","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Baden-Baden 20 years later: When WAGs and journalists clash at the 2006 World Cup in Germany - EPL VIP \u2013 Latest English Premier League News &amp; Updates<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/19\/baden-baden-20-years-later-when-wags-and-journalists-clash-at-the-2006-world-cup-in-germany\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Baden-Baden 20 years later: When WAGs and journalists clash at the 2006 World Cup in Germany - EPL VIP \u2013 Latest English Premier League News &amp; Updates\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"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. 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