13 October 2023 , 17:30
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Gareth Southgate's Three Lions are taking on Australia in a friendly at Wembley and behind of the most players is a supportive wife or girlfriend. Many footballers in the squad are still with their childhood sweethearts, with striker Harry Kane first meeting his wife Katie when the couple were just four years old.
The term WAG has been widely known since the likes of Victoria Beckham, Abbey Clancy and Cheryl Cole dominated the showbiz pages during tournaments. And it was given more publicity earlier this year when Rebekah Vardy unsuccessfully sued Coleen Rooney for libel, with Wayne Rooney's wife being dubbed Wagatha Christie.
Today's grounded WAGs range from graduates to influencers, with some enjoying smooth sailing when it comes to their relationships and others enduring a more rocky path to true love. Here's our rundown of the best known of the glamourous women who will be watching their other halves from the stands.
Sasha Attwood with England star Jack Grealish at the World Cup in Qatar (sasha__rebecca/Instagram)Sasha Attwood
Sasha, 27, is a successful model, landing big money deals with Boohoo, Lipsy and GHD. And with her boyfriend Jack Grealish an ambassador for Italian designer label Gucci, many have labeled the glamorous couple the new Posh and Becks.
Sasha began dating the footballer when they were 15, after they met at school in Solihull, West Mids. She went on to support Jack throughout his footballing career, from making his debut for Aston Villa to winning the treble for Manchester City.
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As well as working as a model, Sasha is an influencer. She has a popular Instagram account, with more than 250,000 followers, posting regular makeup and skincare tutorials plus photos showing fans the jetset lifestyle of a Wag. But there is also a downside to dating a much-fancied footballer, with Sasha revealing she had received online death threats from internet trolls as well as enduring Jack being linked with female celebrities including Emily Atack and Love Island's Amber Rose Gill.
Phil Foden has been with Rebecca Cooke since the pair were teens (@beccaf_xx/Instagram)Rebecca Cooke
Rebecca, now in her early 20s, has dated Manchester City's Phil Foden since they were teens. When she was 18 they became parents to son Ronnie and they have since had a baby girl to add to their family.
The midfielder admits his schedule of fixtures home and away means he misses key moments like when Ronnie learned to walk, saying: "It's unfortunate to miss things like that but it's a sacrifice that he'll appreciate when he's older." Adorable tot Ronnie gained over two million social media followers in just two days after Rebecca brought him on to the pitch when Manchester City won the treble.
Rebecca's social media accounts are private and she keeps a low profile, although the young couple hit the headlines in the summer of 2022 when video footage emerged of what looked like a row at a beach club in Corfu, with Phil and Rebecca leaving abruptly accompanied by security.
Fern Hawkins and Harry Maguire have been together for 12 years (David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage)Fern Hawkins
Science and physiotherapy graduate Fern, who has a first class honours degree, has been with Manchester United star Harry McGuire for 12 years. The couple got engaged on February 17, 2018 after he proposed during a romantic trip to Paris. The following year, Fern gave birth to their first child, daughter Lillie Saint with second daughter Piper Rose arriving in 2020.
Their fairytale wedding took place at the Chateau de Varennes in the South of France last summer, with Fern, 29, enjoying a hen do in Marbella with 20 of her pals beforehand. The Wag is a qualified physiotherapist and an influencer, with 100,000 followers on Instagram. Sharing a post to celebrate her first wedding anniversary, she wrote: “1 year down, forever to go I love you with all my heart”.
Annie Kilner with husband, England defender Kyle Walker (Internet Unknown)Annie Kilner
Model Annie met her England international husband when she was a teenager, saying it was "love at first sight". But it's fair to say there have been bumps in their road in the 11 years since then. In 2020 it was revealed Kyle had fathered a child with reality star Lauren Goodman following a brief romance, with Annie telling a newspaper: "What he has done to me and our children is obscene. I can’t begin to put it into words."
The couple had previously split in 2019 when Ex On The Beach star Laura Brown claimed she had slept with the Manchester City defender on multiple occasions. But Annie and Kyle, who share sons Riaan, Roman and Reign, went onto tie the knot in a secret ceremony in November 2021, after he proposed with a £250,000 ring.
And Annie calls the footballer the "best dad ever" to their three children, saying she would love a girl to add to her male-dominated household.
Katie Goodland met striker Harry Kane at schoolKatie Goodland
Fitness instructor Katie, 30, is, like many Wags, a childhood sweetheart of her footballer beau, dating England striker Harry Kane since they were at school together. The sports science graduate shares four children with Harry - daughters Ivy, 6 and Vivienne Jane, 4 and sons Louis, 2 and Henry, born on August 20 this year.
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The footballer proposed to Katie in the Bahamas in 2017 and wed the woman he calls his "best friend" two years later at a secret location by the ocean. She enjoyed a week-long hen party in Las Vegas, with seven pals wearing Harry masks as she sported an angel costume while they partied by the hotel pool. Katie, who has stayed in Hertfordshire while Harry has moved to new club Bayern Munich this season, is credited with keeping the high-profile player down to earth.
Jordan and Megan Pickford have recently had a second child (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)Megan Davison
Megan, 27, has been with England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford since she was 14, meeting at school in Sunderland. The couple had son Arlo George in 2019 and married in March the following year. But while they officially tied the knot at Crewe Registry Office they were forced to put their overseas wedding celebrations on hold due to the pandemic.
Megan and Jordan finally enjoyed a lavish ceremony in the Maldives last year, with the Wag gushing it was "worth the wait for the most magical day with my soulmate". Megan gave birth to the couple's second child, daughter Ostara Haze, last month. She has a degree in children's studies from the University of Sunderland.