Learning from the beautiful game

MATTHEW LYNN

As memories of the World Cup fade, it was an opportunity to gain some insight into business, investm...

As memories of the World Cup fade, it was an opportunity to gain some insight into business, investment and management. Because almost everything you need to know about all three subjects could have been learned from watching the matches. Not convinced? Here are four lessons, accompanied by an investment tip. One: experience usually outwits youth. Before the tournament, nobody, not even the French, gave France a hope. Zidane, the captain, was verging on retirement. The team appeared to have changed little since 1998. It didn't matter - sometimes they played brilliantly, sometimes defen...