The cross of St George has made its customary appearance as the England football team prepares to compete in the World Cup.

David Cameron has it flying from his bicycle and Tony Blair says it will fly from 10 Downing Street on the days that England are playing.

The English are a reticent lot about their nationhood. Some even look disdainfully at the flying of the national flag. Not so the Italians or the French. We think it is rather nice to fly the flag once in a while. Good luck to the England football team.