Leader’s blog: the England football team

I am sure I am not the only Englishman this week reflecting on yet another exit in the Quarter Final of a major tournament on penalties. At least this time we managed a defiant effort during the match itself against an Italian side that were patently so much better than those in white shirts.

It’s been noticeable that there has not been quite the same rancour as usually follows England’s elimination from the World Cup or the European Championship. That’s probably partly because there is a new manager who has bought himself a little more of a honeymoon period with the media by getting the best out of a team of limited talents.

It may also be because the public and the media have realised that there is actually an enormous job to be done to produce a generation of footballers in future years with the technical ability to live with the likes of Germany, Spain, Italy and the south Americans.

Planning to turn around difficult situations over the long term can be quite exciting as well as challenging. The frustration is that overnight change cannot be achieved despite the impatience among the media and public to see that change. All of those emotions are familiar to me as a leader of a council and a former cabinet member, although obviously relating to vastly different subjects.

I wish those planning for the future of English football the very best and look forward to the day when a team wearing the three lions enters the field of play with the right skills sets to take on the best and win.