You don’t always have to play Foden and Bellingham together

It was a beautiful game last night. Fresh off the win and ahead of England’s preparations for the Euro’s final (yes, that’s right!), we’ve been thinking about what we can learn from Southgate’s approach to bringing a team together. A team that’s formed from a range of backgrounds and experiences, think Walker vs. Bellingham, but presents a unified approach and achieves results. And while there have been some questions around the tactics, England played a blinder last night and have shown they’ve got what it takes in the big moments.

In the world of business, where it isn’t always as clear cut as the ball hitting the back of the net, there are some lessons we can learn from the England team’s success.

Teamspirit’s very own Pirlo, known for his creativity and vision, Adam Smith has shared thoughts on what we can all learn about teamwork and collaboration from the men's football team.

1. You don't always have to play Bellingham and Foden together.

The strongest teams realise that they don't always need the best people in the room all the time, they need the best mix of people in the room. Though you could argue this after last night’s performance!

2. Every team needs some streetballers like Cole Palmer.

Character, grit and drive goes far further than skillset. Hire character, train skill. Note, this isn't the best best analogy because Cole Palmer has grit and endless talent.

3. Wear Southgate blinkers to block out the noise.

The best teams have a clear and shared goal. They don't get sidetracked by distractions like what their competitors are doing or what the media is saying - eyes on the prize.

4. It's OK to be more Ivan Toney.

Trust is the most important attribute of a strong team. If your team trusts and works fluidly together, it means one team member can afford to take their eyes off the ball momentarily, because the rest of the team has your back.

5. Leaders need to don the Southgate Shield.

It is the job of a leader to step up and take the flack when things get sticky. When a team knows their leader will walk into the battle for them, they'll reciprocate that attitude ten-fold.