Matthew Lynn: Soccer gives lessons on how to score big

It's funny how so many late-afternoon "meetings" in Europe have been scheduled in the past month. Could it have anything to do with the kick-off times for soccer's World Cup?

No, of course not. Still, while your boss may not have figured out that you were watching 22 guys hoof around a hot corner of Germany, 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 six lessons, accompanied by an investment tip. (Be warned: a few weeks ago, I was sure England would be playing Germany in the final.)

1. Experience usually outwits youth

Before the tournament, nobody - not even the French - gave France a hope. Zinedine 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 defensively, but always with enough guile to get them through.

Soccer, like business, has a cult of youth, but brains and experience regularly outplay the energy and passion of the young.

Tip: Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett might be 75 and worrying as much about his will as his next investment. It makes no difference. The chances are that every dollar invested with Buffett will easily outperform any money you place with some brash young hedge-fund manager.

2. Chaotic management will bring disaster

England came into the tournament with a squad brimming with confidence and talent. It was viewed as the most gifted crop of players the country had produced in a generation. Under coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, they appeared clueless. Strikers? Who needs them. A formation? We'll change it by the minute. It doesn't matter how great your assets are, if you can't manage them, you won't do well.

Tip: Sell shares in Vodafone. The world's biggest mobile-phone company should be perfectly placed to exploit the convergence of the internet, telecommunications and the media. Strategic confusion has meant Vodafone's shares are now valued at less than a third of their 2000 peak.

3. You can't win if you don't believe in yourself

Spain came into the tournament as one of the favourites. It has probably the best league in Europe, and a great mix of young stars and smart, game-savvy older players. And what happened? It crashed out early, just as it always does. The Spanish have all the talent they need to make an impression on a big tournament one day - but that day won't come until they believe in themselves.

Tip: Sell Unilever shares. The Anglo-Dutch consumer-goods company has some great brands on its books, such as Lipton tea and Dove soap. Yet while sharemarkets have soared, its shares have barely risen in the past 12 months. If Unilever believed in its potential, it could do great things. The trouble is, that will probably never happen.

4. Never write off old Europe

At the start of the tournament, Argentina dazzled everyone with its skill. The Brazilians were expected to shine. Some thought this would be the year when an African team would go all the way to the final. By the semi- finals, however, it was the traditional soccer powers of Europe that dominated the contest: Italy, Germany, Portugal and France, which just happen to have the lowest economic-growth rates there. As the winner, Italy showed an ability to dig triumph from adversity, which speaks volumes for the nation's character.

Tip: Buy the euro. You might think the euro-area economy is an overtaxed, overregulated dog. Clearly, it has plenty of problems. Still, Europe has been the centre of wealth and power for a couple of millennia. Now that really is a long-term trend, so you'd bet against it at your peril.

5. It's winning that counts

Germany began the tournament looking short on talent and squabbling over coaching. Its national team won no prizes for the artistry of its play but power, fitness and determination took it to third place at the World Cup.

Tip: Buy Microsoft shares. Nobody got excited about the latest version of Windows. The likes of Google and Apple Computer can wow the technology crowd. Yet this column was written on Microsoft software, just like millions of other documents around the world. Other companies get the awards, while Microsoft gets the sale. In the end, we only remember the winners.

6. Never bank on what may happen next

Most predictions before the tournament turned out to be about as accurate as Frank Lampard's shooting, as consistent as Ronaldo's waistline and as truthful as Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty appeals.

Tip: Hold lots of cash. Nip down to the bank, take out all your money, find a remote hillside and bury your life's savings in a deep hole. Nobody knows what will happen next - and they probably never will.

* Matthew Lynn is a Bloomberg News columnist. The opinions expressed are his own.