Abby Brammell

By Daily Mail Reporter

Heading home: Christine Bleakley (left) and Carly Cole arrive at Johannesburg's Tambo Airport for their flights back to London today


The majority of England's WAGs had heeded Fabio Capello's request to stay away until the team had made it through the group stage of the World Cup.

So, for them, the party in South Africa was short lived - and, for some, it didn't even begin.

For those who had made it out to Bloemfontein for Sunday's game, it must have been a rapid repacking of the designer bags before heading back to the airport today.

Christine Bleakley, who had been in the crowd to witness the German drubbing, looked subdued but still happy as she arrived at Johannesberg's Tambo Airport today.

Similarly, Joe Cole's wife Carly probably hoped for her break would last a little longer after less than a week in the country.

Instead she arrived at the airport with her and Joe's three-month-old daughter Ruby - who should make the 11-hour trip home an interesting experience.


Long flight ahead: John Terry's wife Toni (left) and Matthew Upson's girlfriend Ellie Darby at the airport


It's all over: TV presenter Christine Bleakley, girlfriend of Frank Lampard, watches England crash out of the World Cup after losing to Germany


John Terry's wife Toni, Matthew Upson's girlfriend Ellie Darby and Glen Johnson's wife Laura were all heading back today.

For some of the WAGs, however, the party didn't even get started.

Coleen Rooney did not feature at all in the World Cup - more than a few critics could say the same for her husband - and Steven Gerrard's wife Alex Curran had planned to fly out if the team made it to the quarter finals.

The WAGs were partially blamed for England's poor showing at the 2006 World Cup, which led to Capello 'requesting' that they stay away from the team during the opening games.

The post-mortem of this year's disaster is sure to want to blame something or somebody - the FA, the ball, the players, the manager, the referees, the technology, the media - but surely the WAGs are out of the firing line this time.


source: dailymail