Jamie Vardy’s nowhere to been seen on the TV, internet and the newspapers after he was omitted from the England team that scraped a 1-1 draw with Russia on Saturday.
So he wasn’t to blame for England again failing to win the opening match of the Euros – some pundits think he would have made a difference if Hodgson brought him on for final twenty minutes of the game.
But the Vardy name was associated with the rescue of another common phenomenon of England’s participation in the Euros; the WAGs, who first hit headlines during their stay in Baden Baden for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Vardy’s wife Rebekah, who he married in late May, has already more than made up for her husband’s absence at the Euros. Snaps of Mrs Vardy sipping lager in Marseille were followed by yet more pictures (featured not only in the tabloids, but the BBC and Telegraph), featuring Vardy in perfect city-sleek attire, hair swept back, Michael Kors red tote in tow, and pashmina held to her nose after being tear gassed by French police.
A string of Vardy’s tweets, in which she described her eye-witness account of the weekend’s violent events, accompanied the pictures.
The class of 2006 WAGs were accused by some of distracting the team, and stealing the limelight with an endless succession of boutiques, bags and boozy nights out. Will history repeat itself in Marseille this year?