Sven and now: Lookalikes of former manager Sven Goran Eriksson and current chief Fabio Capello added a surreal quality to Coleen Rooney's bashAt the World Cup four years ago, Sven Goran Eriksson allowed the wives and girlfriends to join the England players out in Germany.
So perhaps Coleen Rooney was just returning the favour by inviting the former England manager to her own World Cup party on Saturday.
Somewhat more surprising to onlookers would have been the arrival of a man they hoped was 6,000 miles away overseeing the current national team.
On closer inspection, however, it transpired this 'Fabio Capello' and Sven were actually just two very convincing lookalikes.
When Mrs Rooney found out that professional Sven impersonator Derek Williams - who dubs himself 'the ultimate Svenalike' - was in town, she asked him to come along to entertain guests at her lavish party.
The £6,000 event was held at the home in Huyton, Liverpool, of her parents, bricklayer Tony and nursery nurse Collette, as the England team played their opening match of the tournament against the U.S. in South Africa.
As well as the impersonators, the 24-year-old had arranged a mobile disco, a gigantic marquee and a catering team.
Meticulous planning: Coleen decided to stay in Merseyside for the match, while her mother Colette McLoughlin planned everything from food to securityAlso on the guest list were the wives of a number of Wayne Rooney's Manchester United teammates.
Mr Williams said: 'Coleen is a friend of a friend. They knew I was in town and asked me to come along. I stayed for 20 minutes before heading home and didn't charge them.
'It was a great party, really lively. They had really pushed the boat out and Coleen was a great host and really went to town. There was another friend who was impersonating Fabio Capello. We were all joking about who was more convincing.'
Backyard barbecue: A large marquee marks the spot where Coleen Rooney and her parents and friends celebrated England's opening World Cup game on Saturday nightWilliams, has certainly managed to fool some in the past.
He was famously able to trick Mexican football authorities into meeting him shortly after Eriksson signed as the manager of the national team in 2008.
The real Fabio Capello would, perhaps, have not been so welcome at the party
Following the attention the WAGs attracted at the last tournament, he has banned them from joining the players until at least the group stages this time around.
Mrs Rooney, who is also looking after her eight-month- old son Kai, has said that if England reach the semi-finals, she may fly out to support her husband
Get this party started: The mobile disco arrives outside the McLoughlin home. At least guests got to hear something other than the incessant Vuvzela hornsEngland captain Steven Gerrard’s wife Alex Curran, 27, staged her own barbecue last night for friends at their mansion down the road.
At the last World Cup in Germany four years ago the WAGs caused a commotion with their shopping trips in the smart town of Baden Baden and were regarded as a distraction.
Some even blamed them for the team’s exit in the quarter-finals.
Coleen has said that if England reach the semi-finals, she may fly out to support her husband.
John Terry’s wife Toni plans to fly out if England reach the quarter-finals, Alex Curran will attend the semi-finals if England are playing and Peter Crouch’s partner Abbey Clancy will travel if the team contest the final.
Guests: The McLoughlins invited at least 30 friends and extended family members to their party on Saturday nightsource: dailymail
