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Fabian Delph Reveals Tense Penalty Shootout Sent His Wife Into Labour

Fabian Delph Reveals Tense Penalty Shootout Sent His Wife Into Labour

The Man City midfielder was given permission to fly home from England's World Cup to be with his wife for the birth of their third child

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

There are many things that are supposed to bring on labour - a hot curry, a long walk or engaging in a bit of you-know-what.

Well, now there's a new kid on the block - sitting through a nail-biting World Cup penalty shootout involving your home nation. Yep, that'll get the cervix opening, and Fabian Delph and his wife can confirm it.

The Manchester City midfielder revealed that England's final push in the penalty stage against Colombia sent his wife Natalie into labour. And Ian Wright too, if his reaction on ITV was anything to go by.

Fabian Delph.
PA

The Mirror reports that Delph was given permission to fly home from England's World Cup to be with his wife for the birth of their third child.

That must have all been down to Gareth Southgate. We know what a gent (and massive LAD) he is, as he demonstrated when consoling Colombia players following England's win.

Delph told the Mirror: "It was actually that game that took her into labour! During the game she was diving about watching and she then went into hospital afterwards. She had the baby, I got back and have had a session with the lads.

"She was a few days over which is why I missed the quarter-final. I was comfortable with that because I know we have more than enough in the dressing room to win that game and I watched the game at home on the couch.

"For me, personally, it's been one of the best weeks of my life, if not the best week of my life. I obviously had a few days back home for the birth of my third child.

"The gaffer gave me a couple of days to get back so to come back and be involved in a fantastic squad and not only that, to get some minutes is absolutely fantastic."

We knew it would have all been down to Southgate.

PA

Delph's Manchester City team mate, Vincent Kompany, loaned him his private jet to fly back and forth to Russia, who are hosting the tournament.

Funnily though, Kompany plays for Belgium - the only team to have beaten England in the tournament, although it's still possible that this was the plan all along to secure an easier route to the final. England could also be facing them again, if they make it that far.

Will Kompany be regretting his grand gesture if that does happen?

Delph said: "Vincent Kompany's family came out for the Belgium game and I am close with him and the family so I flew back with Vincent's family on a private plane. It was just me, his children and his wife.

"They had just beaten us so I didn't know whether to speak to them! He has three lovely kids and they were running about. On my way back I was just on my own on the plane. Fair play to the FA who looked after me. Now I am really looking forward to Wednesday."

Vincent Kompany.
PA

And talking about the atmosphere in the UK at the moment, he added: "It is crazy. We are out here in our bubble, our circle, and we do not have outside distractions so we are not aware of what is going on. But going back for three or four days, it was incredible.

"The support I felt was absolutely amazing, even people who are not into football are stopping me and shouting and saying 'make sure you bring it home'. It is overwhelming.

"I have told a couple of the lads about it and they could not believe it. We are in for a shock when we are finished and go home.

"We will take each game at a time. We are going into the next game to win. We set out to win the competition and that is still the end goal. Tune in - we are excited and confident."

Congrats to Fabian Delph and his family - now it's time for England to show everyone what they're made of. It's coming home!

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: SPORT, Entertainment, UK Entertainment, World Cup