ENGLAND boss Gareth Southgate wants players to see their partners for World Cup downtime but Covid may intervene.
Southgate , 52, said: “We would like it to happen, we think it is a significant part of a team feeling relaxed and comfortable.
“But at the moment none of us know what the transmission rate is likely to be out there.”;
On Friday, there were 307 new Covid cases in Qatar.
Southgate added: “We need to monitor it quite closely.”;
Some of the players’ wives and girlfriends will be on the £1billion cruise ship MSC World Europa.
Model Sasha Attwood , 26, girlfriend of Man City ace Jack Grealish , 27, is among those expected to fly out for the tournament, starting next Sunday.
Southgate also revealed he has some special motivational plans up his sleeve - but was keeping it a secret for now.
Actor Michael Sheen delivered a rousing pre-World Cup speech to the Welsh team , who will face England in the group stages.
It was light-heartedly put to Southgate that perhaps he would bring in Brian Blessed to do likewise.
Yet the England chief was giving nothing away, and joked: “Maybe we can go one better than Wales.”;
When Southgate was pressed to reveal details, he added: “No, we can’t. But we want them to do all the things that going to a World Cup involves the suits, the photos.
“But thankfully there’s been no record, or song! We just want them to be excited about going.”;
