As Wayne Rooney and Luis Suarez clash they both count on support of their WAGs

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Liverpool's Luis Suarez are among the few players to take their WAGs to Brazil

With an army of fans willing them on to World Cup glory, Wayne Rooney and Luis Suarez know they carry the hopes of their nations tonight.

But while the Premier League rivals yesterday prepared to go head to head in the crucial clash between England and Uruguay, it was their wives who became their biggest supporters.

Coleen Rooney was by her husband’s side with their children Kai, four, and 13-month-old Klay as the under-fire Manchester United striker struggles with criticism over his international form.

And Sofia Suarez went out for dinner last night with Liverpool’s Uruguayan hitman and their kids Delfina, three, and nine-month-old Benji to give him a boost in his recovery from injury.

The women are among the few WAGs to have travelled to Brazil.

Roo’s family have been staying at a hotel on Rio’s Ipanema beach. He has spent some time with them and they will fly to Sao Paolo for tonight’s match against the South Americans, which could decide who goes through to the knockout stages.

A source close to the Rooneys said last night: “It is a big thing for Wayne having them here. Of course he wants to score for the team, for the country. But it would mean so much if he can score in front of them and Coleen.”

And £300,000 a week Rooney admitted he has been off the boil in international games but hopes the support of his wife will help him to find his best again.

The 28-year-old said on his website: “Knowing my family will be in the stands will be another reason to drive me on.

“Some of the past ­tournaments haven’t gone to plan and it’s something I want to change. I never really enjoyed some of the last tournaments for different reasons like missing my family and maybe the pressure got to me but this isn’t something that is going to get in my way here.”

England fans in Sao Paulo last night backed Roo to come good.

One, Gareth Prior, 42, said: “He needs a goal just to give him ­confidence then I’m sure he will fire England into the knockout stages.” Rooney will come up against Suarez if the Anfield star plays, as is expected. He has been struggling with a knee injury, but the 27-year-old insists he has ­recovered. And Uruguay boss Oscar Tabarez last night hinted he would play the star man regardless. He said: “Even if he is not 100% fit he can give a lot to his team.”

Bookies have slashed the odds on him being the first goalscorer to 5-1.

England have sold 4,500 tickets for tonight’s clash at the 62,601-capacity Arena Corinthians stadium. Another 5,000 fans are understood to have obtained tickets from FIFA or the black market.

Roy Hodgson’s boys will enjoy a far less punishing climate than in their opening match at Manaus in the steaming 31C Amazonian jungle. It is expected to be a balmy 15C and it could even rain.

The tournament in Brazil has been one of the most colourful when it comes to fans. Supporters have been seen in an array of national outfits and face paints.

Their behaviour has been generally good but last night a rampaging mob of Chile fans invaded the media centre at Rio’s Maracana stadium before their clash with Spain in a bid to enter the arena. Most were escorted back out by stewards.

• World Cup widows in England are flocking to the theatre in a bid to beat the football blues. Sales of tickets for West End shows popular with women, such as The Bodyguard, have soared.