MICHAEL OWEN warned his wife about being caught out partying at the 2006 World Cup – but Baden-Baden still became infamous anyway.
The forward experienced a big change in freedom between and from 1998 to and four years later.
Michael Owen warned his wife, Louise Bonsall, about being caught parting at the 2006 World Cup Credit: Alamy
Wags took centre stage at the tournament after not being allowed at France ’98 Credit: Rex
He went from not being able to see long-term partner and wife Louise Bonsall at all to Three Lions overshadowing the tournament.
Owen, 26 at the time, remembers just how things had shifted between the two bosses.
Speaking about Hoddle’s strict disciplinary regime, he told the Daily Mail : “You almost feel guilty saying, ‘Oh, it was miserable and boring back in the day,’ because it’s everyone’s dream to play for their country.
“But at France ’98, it was so miserable. We didn’t have mobile phones and Glenn wasn’t keen on us playing golf.
“We weren’t allowed to see our families. You’d see them 200 metres away at the top of the stand, and that was it.”
Under Sven, Wags ran riot in the small German town of Baden-Baden with less restrictions.
During a peak era of David and hype, Wayne and being out, and (formerly Cole) love life, .
But Owen, wary of Louise taking attention away, was not standing for it.
He explained: “It was very different to France ’98! The mad thing is, when it was available [going out], I wasn’t even that bothered.
“I didn’t once go down into the village – I think I was still brainwashed! But I’d said to my wife: ‘Don’t you dare be pictured dancing on tables.’
“It honestly would have put me off my game. Thankfully, she was sensible. I’d told her to avoid the wild crowd.”
Owen added that the Carraghers were included in the latter category with their nightlife, shopping, and bar bills.
England crashed out to in the quarters on penalties but reflected that the team wasn’t taken seriously.
He said: “We became a bit of a circus. And almost became a secondary element to the main event.
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“Everyone was worrying more about what people were wearing than the England team.”
Owen, who had been kept straight by Hoddle before, said of France ’98: “There were no newspapers, and no one was watching .
“I love Glenn, but he was too big on discipline.
“We all knew we had to eat rice, boiled potatoes, pasta and boiled chicken.
“But you weren’t even allowed a bit of bolognese or tomato sauce. Every meal was the same.
“There was a big banner above the restaurant saying: ‘Chew to Win.’ The idea was that the more you chew and digest your food, the less energy it takes for your blood to break it down.
“Our French doctor was giving us all these nutrients, and we were popping pills and taking creatine.
“We were tuned to the max. That was all well and good, but there was no let-up.
“What England will do in Kansas is what you need. An odd night out to let your hair down.
“You aren’t getting drunk, but you’re seeing something different.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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