England squad's partners await call-up

Wives and girlfriends of England’s soccer players were today planning trips to join their partners in Japan - if England can get past Denmark in Saturday’s second round World Cup match.

The plan is for them to fly out in time for the quarter final next Friday if England maintain their successful form in the match against Denmark in Niigata.

David Beckham’s wife, Victoria, is not expected to make the trip because of her pregnancy.

Detailed planning will not take place until after it is known whether England have progressed to the last eight of the competition.

Meanwhile Osaka, where England drew nil-nil with Nigeria to finish second in group F, was quiet overnight with the British embassy reporting no incidents or arrests.

The number of British fans in custody remained at nine, from 13 arrested so far at the World Cup, four having been freed.

The latest arrest was a fan held at the stadium yesterday for trying to gain entry without proper authorisation.

A total of 51 Britons have so far been turned away from Japan and Korea, 26 following information supplied by the British, and the number of banning orders issued in the UK stands at 1,040, an embassy spokesman said.