GARETH SOUTHGATE has poured cold water on plans for the England wives and girlfriends to star in a fly-on-the-wall World Cup documentary.
In fact the Three Lions boss won’t even call them ‘wags’ because he says the phrase is disrespectful.
The Sun reported on Sunday that a leading TV company is hoping to get an access-all-areas pass to film the players’ partners during November's World Cup finals in Qatar.
But family man Southgate is clearly not keen on the idea and said: “It’s really not my cup of tea.
“And I’d be surprised if the group of players that we’ve got would have any interest in that because they want to focus on the football.
“That was what happened at the last World Cup in Russia and last summer’s Euros. It was all about the players and everything they do.
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“We like to involve the families when we can and we want them to feel welcome.
“I don’t like the term wags because I feel it’s quite disrespectful. It’s their partners and their families.
“We invited them into the team hotel when we could in Russia four years ago. But we couldn’t do it last year because of Covid.
“Mums, dads and especially the kids, it’s a great feeling when you’ve got them in because it changes the dynamic of the hotel.
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“It’s one big family and I think everyone recognises that part of what we do has been very good over the last couple of years.”
Southgate is acutely aware of how England’s 2006 World Cup campaign in Germany was constantly overshadowed by the antics of the players’ partners out on the town in Baden-Baden.
And he is keen to ensure that there will be no distractions for his players in Qatar, with plans for the players’ families to stay on a luxury cruise ship in Qatar with the occasional low-key visit to the team hotel.
Captain Harry Kane is also keen to avoid any distractions which could draw England off task in the Middle East.
He said: "I think Gareth [Southgate] hit the nail on the head.
“We’ve created this really good environment where friends and family, girlfriends and wives have been part of the team and the group, especially when we’ve been away.
“Last summer was a bit different obviously, but I’ve not been contacted about my wife [being involved] and she hasn’t, so I’m not too sure whose has.
"We want to focus on the World Cup and we don’t want any distraction from that.”
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