World Football WAGs XI

Ever since the 2006 World Cup, when the wives and girlfriends of the England national team partied it up in the bars of Baden Baden, we've all developed an obsession with footballers' other halves.



It's got to the point where the acronym WAG has virtually become a noun—even a job title—in its own right.



Picking a starting XI of WAGs in relation to the playing position of their respective beaus is hardly the height of anyone's journalistic career, but it's not exactly a chore either.



Honourable mentions could go to scores of young women who have either split from their former footballing partners or have seen them retire from the game, not least Cheryl Cole, Imogen Thomas, Natalie Fassi and Noemi Lenoir.



However, from the multitude of those available, here is the XI. Feel free to leave your own suggestions below.

GK: Susana Werner

Beating off competition from a very strong field of contenders, Brazilian model and actress Susana Werner is the first name on the teamsheet.



Once the girlfriend of legendary striker (and eater) Ronaldo, Werner is now married to Inter Milan goalkeeper Julio Cesar, with whom she has two children.

LB: Charlene Suric

Seen here modelling a special edition 'World Champions' France jersey, Suric is the other half of Manchester City left-back Gael Clichy.

CB: Shakira

Outgoing Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola was thought to be unhappy with the level of attention Gerard Pique was getting due to his relationship with the pint-sized Colombian pop sensation, but can you blame the defender for taking his eye off the ball?

CB: Lara Alvarez

Like his Real Madrid teammate Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos is dating one of Spain's most beautiful television presenters.

RB: Valentina Zambrotta

The extraordinarily proportioned wife of AC Milan and Italy defender Gianluca Zambrotta completes our defence.

RM: Oksana Andersson

Andersson's other half may not boast the same stellar career as the other players on this list—she is married to former Bolton winger Christian Wilhelmsson—but her stunning looks mean she more than holds her own in this team.

CM: Sarah Brandner

A mainstay of any collection of the most beautiful women linked with footballers, the girlfriend of Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is always as much reason to watch Germany at a major tournament as their talented players.

CM: Sylvie Van Der Vaart

When Sylvie married Netherlands midfielder Rafael van der Vaart in 2005, their wedding was broadcast live on Dutch television.

LM: Irina Shayk

Dating the beautiful Russian model is just one of many reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo is so justified in having such a huge ego.

FW: Abbey Clancy

The Liverpudlian model can often be seen on the arm of her husband, the lanky Stoke City striker Peter Crouch, who will invariably be wearing an expression that says "No, me neither."

FW: Abbey Clancy

Recently crowned both PFA and FWA Player of the Year, universally hailed as one of the best strikers in the world and adored by Arsenal fans—and Robin van Persie gets to go home to the beautiful Bouchra.