It is 20 years this week since the original WAGs made the World Cup in Germany a whole lot more glamorous and controversial in 2006. That year England crashed out in the quarter finals to Portugal as Wayne Rooney's straight red card and his Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo's infuriating wink preceded more penalty shootout heartache for Sven-Goran Eriksson's side in Germany.
And of course, their wives and girlfriends were blamed as a "distraction" thanks to the media attention and celebrity circus off the pitch - even though they were not the ones who could not kick a ball into a net from 12 yards. Drunk dancing on tables, sky-high hotel bills and even a drug scandal were among the stories to come out of the German resort during the tournament.
Since then, a whole lot has changed for the women who took Baden-Baden by storm. Here we set tongues wagging with a look at their lives.
Victoria Beckham
Hailed as "the Queen of the WAGs", Posh Spice had recently watched her solo career flop after leaving the Spice Girls. But at least she was married to England's star player David Beckham, who unlike in France 1998, was not the villain of the piece this time around. However, his tournament again ended in heartbreak, as the then Real Madrid midfielder tore his right Achilles tendon in the defeat to Portugal. These days Victoria, 52, is a mum-of-four with pricey fashion and beauty brands, plus a high-profile feud with eldest son Brooklyn. The Beckhams have now been married for more than two decades and reside in the USA, where the Manchester United legend, 50, is president of MLS side Inter Miami.
Cheryl
The Girls Aloud star was on the cusp of marrying left-back Ashley Cole, after a two-year whirlwind romance. They would split in 2010 following cheating claims. Chezza then wed French restaurateur Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini in 2014, but it lasted just two years. She went on to have a baby with the late One Direction singer Liam Payne. Career-wise, Cheryl has earned five UK number one singles as a solo artist and has also appeared as a judge on The X Factor.
Coleen Rooney
Fresh-faced Coleen was branded a "chavette" for her down-to-earth look. To make matters worse, her then-boyfriend Wayne had recently owned up to paying for sex. But the Liverpudlian lovely married him anyway. She is understood to have been among the group of WAGs that racked up a £57,000 bill during just one hour of shopping during the tournament. Her and Rooney's relationship has been tested by numerous scandals during their time together but they remain strong and have four children together. Coleen became a columnist and reality star.
Abbey Clancy
The Scouse model had only just started dating then Liverpool forward Peter Crouch. But he was said to have dumped her midway through the tournament, when photos emerged of her snorting cocaine two years previously, when she was still a teenager. But they soon got back together, married in 2011 and had two sons and two daughters. Abbey is still a successful model. Clancy has gone on to become a regular face on British TV screens, winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2013 and presenting Britain's Next Top Model since 2015.
Alex Curran
Alex already had two kids with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, her boyfriend of four years, at the time of the World Cup. The former nail technician was said to have splashed £25,000 in a hotel bill with 60 bottles of champagne on her tab during the tournament. They got married in 2007 and had two more children. The family has recently been living in Bahrain, while Steven managed Pro League club Al Ettifaq in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, but are now back in England.
Elen Rivas
Frank Lampard's long-term partner was already the mother of his daughter. She reportedly delivered a rendition of 'I Will Survive' stood on a table in a Baden-Baden bar. The Spanish model was also said to have lost her temper while trying to take six items of carry-on luggage on board during the flight out to Germany. They had another child in 2007, but split suddenly two years later, amid rumours he had cheated. She went on to date Australian popstar Peter Andre but has since moved out of the spotlight, while Lampard is now married to television presenter Christine Bleakley. The Spanish model now has her own beauty clinic in central London.
Vanessa Perroncel
The lingerie model seemed smitten with left-back Wayne Bridge. They welcomed a son together later that year. But they then broke up over claims she had cheated with Wayne's Chelsea team-mate John Terry, which both have always denied. Vanessa was briefly linked to Cheryl's ex-hubby Jean-Bernard in 2016.
Nancy Dell'Olio
The charismatic Italian-American lawyer made her mark as the partner of England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson. They split in 2007 after the Swedish boss cheated with TV star Ulrika Jonsson and later the Football Association secretary Faria Alam. Nancy later appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. When Sven died in August 2024, Dell'Olio paid an emotional tribute to him.
