Jude Bellingham’s girlfriend Ashlyn and Jordan Pickford’s wife Megan bite their nails as England face tense second half while Harry Kane’s wife Kate rallies team with sweet banner

The England WAGs were on the edge of the seats after a tough first half saw DR Congo score within the first seven minutes at the World Cup on Wednesday. 

Brian Cipenga gave Congo a surprising 1-0 lead over England at halftime at the Mercedes Benz stadium in Atlanta. 

Ashlyn Castro and Megan Pickford looked tense after Harry Kane went down under a challenge from Mpasi, with referee Adham Makhadmeh waving away appeals.

England head coach Thomas Tuchel was seen remonstrating with the fourth official on the touchline as Kane and his team-mates complained to Makhadmeh.

Former England striker Alan Shearer was convinced England should have been awarded a spot-kick.

‘There is contact, there is no doubt,’ he said on the BBC. ‘For me that is a penalty.

‘Kane may have made the most of it but the keeper has come out and his hands are there. If he is going to come rushing out like that with his hands as a forward you have every right to make connection and go down.’

Arriving just before the game kicked off, Jude Bellingham’s girlfriend Ashlyn was dressed to impress in a black halterneck top and jeans as she took her seat.  

Ashlyn made sure she looked picture perfect as she donned a glamorous palette of makeup for the football game. 

Elsewhere, England captain Harry Cane’s wife Kate looked stylish in a Toteme grey co-ord as she arrived at the game with her children. 

Kate looked ever the proud wife as she carried ‘Go Daddy’ signs as well as a giant picture of Harry’s head. 

Meanwhile, influencer Megan showed off her incredible figure in a tiny green cropped England shirt which she teamed with skinny white low-rise trousers.

The blonde beauty styled her long locks in voluminous curls and toted her belongings in a green Chanel handbag.

Megan looked in good spirits as she touched up her makeup from the stand and kept cool as she fanned herself with a portable electric fan. 

The Daily Mail revealed last week how wives and girlfriends of the England team had enjoyed a night out in a New York night spot ahead of the game against Panama last weekend which the Three Lions won 2-0.

The girls put on their glad rags and downed $30 cocktails at the ultra trendy French themed Maison Close venue from 10pm until the joint shut at 2am.

A bouncer at the venue had even told the Daily mail how some of the WAGS had wanted to ‘carry on partying’ and he had suggested another nightclub further along the road.

But in the end the WAGS, led by Ollie Watkins glamorous wife Ellie, decided to have an early night and had back to their hotel where they had a lie in before heading to the Met Life stadium.

Defender John Stones wife Olivia, posted a picture on her social media showing the wags all sat in a row at the venue, which had been a joint birthday and getting to know you bonding session.

She captioned the image as ‘girls night out in the big apple’ highlighting it with Statue of Liberty emoji and a red apple.

Footage posted online and revealed by the Daily Mail, shows Ellie enjoying herself as she dances in the club and in another photo, she is posing with her sister.

A bouncer at the club said: ‘There was around a dozen of them, they were the wives and girlfriends of the English soccer team and they arrived in two limos.

‘They had two security people with them and the party was booked by someone with an English name, I think it was someone’s birthday but I can’t be sure.

‘They were singing and dancing and having a good time, they were doing what young women do when they come to New York, they enjoyed themselves.

‘They were here until 2am when we close and then they wanted to know where else they could carry on parting, I gave them the name of a late night club but I don’t think they went.’

On its website Maison Close describes itself as offering ‘an unparalleled vibe dining experience to neighbours and visitors to New York through approachable traditional French cuisine, elevated beverages and a celebratory atmosphere.’

Also on the menu is caviar and blinis with 250g of the prized delicacy setting customers back an eye-watering $1650.

Maison Close is in Lower Manhattan, on the east side and close the achingly hipster area of Tribeca.

A source said: ‘It was a getting to know you bonding session for the WAGs and they all had a great time.

‘They were singing and dancing and having a fabulous time, let’s face it it’s New York isn’t so it was always going to be glamorous and fun.

‘They got in late but were up and about early so they could have a late breakfast get ready and go to the game.’

Other WAGS in New York include John Stones wife Olivia and Bukayo Sako’s girlfriend Tolami Benson and for some it was the second night clubbing in a week after several went to trendy New York night spot Somewhere Nowhere in the heart of Manhattan.

England will take to the field at 5pm UK time, no doubt kickstarting an early finish from work for many fans as they head to the pub for the match.

Head coach Thomas Tuchel was asked if this was an opportunity to put on a dinner-time show for the kids, who may have been in bed for each of their group matches.

‘We would love to entertain them,’ the former Chelsea boss said – but warned that a fraught evening may be in store in living rooms across the country.

‘Maybe we need to define entertainment,’ he added. ‘We don’t know what’s coming and I don’t want to ruin expectations.

‘Everyone wants to play exciting football and fun football, but it can also be entertaining if you feel the spirit and the energy of the team. 

‘Hopefully, everyone is allowed to watch tomorrow because they have to go to bed early normally. 

‘Hopefully, they feel the spirit and how much it means to this team. I see it every day, I feel it every day, and hopefully we can transmit it through the TVs and make them proud and happy.’

On a more sober note, Tuchel confirmed that both Jarell Quansah and Reece James would not be in the squad for the closed-roof clash against the Africans, as England’s full-back curse continues. However, he said that both had come close to making the cut.

It came after Ellie, and friends of the England WAGs, were forced to hit back at pundit Roy Keane, after he criticised them for wearing shirts sporting their partner’s names.

Sources say they have vowed to carry on showing their support by wearing the football shirts, as some did last night as England took on Panama in their last group match.

A friend of some of the WAGs said: ‘They are adamant they will wear whatever they want.

‘Why should they let someone like Roy Keane tell them otherwise? He’s a miserable old git.

‘The girls love to show support for their partners by wearing their names on their back, or at least an England shirt. It’s a case of go away, grandad.

‘Some of them ignored it, some have been giggling about why they wind him up so much.’

Keane made the comments on Gary Neville’s podcast The Overlap, when he was asked what he would like to put in Room 101 – meaning it would no longer exist.

‘Oh, the jersey?’ he said. ‘The World Cup, when all the players’ wives and families are going to the match, all the wives are in the jerseys with the players’ names on the back, wow.

‘Children is fine, but the wives and partners wearing their jerseys with their name on the back, wow.

‘A year later they are separated, most of them. And they’re all getting pictures, and they’re pointing at a Jimmy or Johnny on the back, wow. We know who you are married to.’

Ellie hit back just a few hours before England’s 0-0 draw with Ghana last Tuesday.

In a video posted on TikTok, the 30-year-old showed off her outfit – a white sleeveless crop top and a pair of blue jeans – writing underneath, ‘Roy Keane do you approve?’ followed by smiling, heart and England flag emojis.

It comes after WAG Ellie posted a hilarious update after her wardrobe malfunction – telling her eager followers she has been bra shopping.

Ellie shared that she forgot to pack her vital underwear when she went to the Ghana game in Boston.

It led to her describing the day as a ‘nightmare’ and she had to change her ‘planned summery outfit’ because of the miserable rainy weather.

As a result, she swapped her wardrobe for a white tank top, jeans and a red jacket topped off with an England baseball cap – she even jokingly had a dig at Roy Keane and asked if he ‘approved’ following his criticism of WAGs wearing shirts with their partner’s name on them.

But on Wednesday after flying into New York from Boston she posted an update on her social media cheekily telling fans she had ‘got the goods’ as she posted a picture of mannequins wearing bras, adding a laughing emoji.

While not naming the store the picture matches the display for the trendy lingerie firm Skims who have a flagship store on 5th Avenue in the heart of New York’s shopping district.