ENGLAND'S footballers' wives arrived in Germany yesterday ahead of the team's opening game against Paraguay today.
Wayne Rooney's fiancee Coleen McLoughlin, 20, and Steven Gerrard's fiancee Alex Curran (pictured), 23, touched down at Frankfurt airport with a small party of friends and family, including Coleen's mum Colette.
Coleen, dressed in blue jeans, a summery brown top and large, dark sunglasses, laughed and joked as she wheeled her suitcase and designer handbag out of the airport.
Alex Curran, dressed in blue jeans, a white top and sunglasses, brought her two-year-old daughter Lilly-Ella.
She wheeled an empty blue pram out of the airport while a friend carried the baby.
The women were then driven south towards the England wives' hotel in the elegant spa town of Baden Baden, close to the team's training camp.
Gary Neville's wife Emma Hadfield was the first to arrive there, at the sumptuous five-star Brenner-Park Hotel.
Relatives of Aaron Lennon also checked in.
The hotel is providing for the wives' every need including private spas, shopping trips and has even reportedly bought in a special supply of fake tan.
A personal assistant has been hired to help the wives with any shopping or sightseeing needs.
Bouquets of red and white roses topped by England flags arrived at the hotel, one for each room being stayed in by the England players' partners.
The Cross of St George is also being flown over the building where a suite costs 1,375 euros (£943).
The wives have booked in for a month, apparently confident that the team will reach the latter stages of the tournament.
Hotel director Frank Marrenbach said he would be supporting England during the wives' stay.
"We're delighted to have them here, it brings flair to the hotel," he said.
"I will be supporting England and it's very important the England team do well because I want our guests to be happy.
"But if England play against us, you will have to forgive me, I will cross my fingers for Germany.
"There are many things for them to do here, we have prepared things and they have that in their rooms.
"We also have someone, a personal assistant, for the month and she will work alongside them."
There is also a children's club for the players' children.
"I think they will like the town," said Mr Marrenbach.
"It's perfectly safe and absolutely clean."
Baden Baden is home to Germany's largest concentration of millionaires.
It boasts some of the most stylish and expensive shops in the country, including designer items from Armani, Versace, Prada and Chanel, and will be a home-from-home for footballers' wives armed with their credit cards.
