The defeated England team will be able to return home with their underwear and a Fifa gold medal - if not their dignity - following their embarrassing loss to Germany.
The England team were bundled out of the World Cup on Saturday when Germany beat them 4-1 - and were robbed of a goal by the ref.
And while the likes of Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard tried their best to salvage their battered reputations, staff at their Rustenburg hotel were rifling through the players' designer label closets, helping themselves to briefs and boxers and a selection of other items.
Whereas the hordes of English supporters refused to see the writing on the wall for their team, the cleaners at the state-of-the-art Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, where the team were based, seemed to see their opportunity fading before their eyes.
With the team having drawn two games and facing the prospect of not proceeding past the group stage and going home, the cleaning staff at the Royal Marang Hotel started their spree, collecting nearly R80 000 worth of clothes, personal belongings and ?485 (R5 530) in cash.
"They started on June 21 and stole things until June 25," said North West police Colonel Junior Metsi.
Police have been asked not to reveal the names of the players who had goods stolen, but The Star has been reliably informed that items were stolen from virtually every member of the squad.
It seems the English team started missing their jocks only after four days, with a case of theft opened with the police on Saturday.
In less than 24 hours, Thulane Fortunate Mongake, 26, Ernest Zimisile Klaas, 28, Thapelo Joseph Senne, 21, Basimane Levy Njielane, 34, and Catherine Motsilanyane, 28, were arrested, tried and sentenced to three years or a fine of R6 000 in the Tlhabane World Cup court.
All the stolen items were returned, among them a gold World Cup winners' medal.