The Specials

Best of British deserves United Kingdom

Marvellous on the court, maturing off it, the British No 1 deserves an end to the antipathy that greeted his arrival

Spain will always remain main attraction

We may think the world revolves around England, but many of the world's best players want to ply their trade in La Liga

Declining Owen forced to seek lesser goals

It may be time for the player and an adoring public to accept that a glittering career may never reach previous heights

Clubs raise the bar, but at what cost?

The reason the Zinédine Zidane transfer record has lasted this long is that no one has been foolish enough to rewrite it

Ancelotti ‘like 007 on secret mission’ in talks

From a Russian with love: the AC Milan coach reveals that he has been pursued by Roman Abramovich for a year

Defining night beckons for Ronaldo and Messi

Portuguese striker set to lead the Manchester United attack on his own as experts acclaim his extraordinary talents

Manchester United can aspire to greatness

Ingredients are in place for Champions League final to offer a sumptuous feast to satisfy the hunger of purists

Public enemy but always Chelsea’s No 1

Less resolute than John Terry, less consistent than Frank Lampard, but Didier Drogba is the club's most important player

Referee lends fire to conspiracy theorists

Guus Hiddink became latest in a growing line of Chelsea managers to contrive an unlikely exit from the Champions League

Manager's road to Rome wasn't built in a day

Manchester United's semi-final triumph over Arsenal suggests that Sir Alex Ferguson can lay claim to be a European master

Shoot-out lottery? It’s just part of game

Deciding a rugby European Cup finalist by penalties may seem a trifle harsh, but Matt Dickinson loved the spectacle

Hiddink gives lesson in smothering tactics

The Dutchman's team stuck well to the task of stifling the considerable attacking threat of Barcelona at the Nou Camp

Matt Dickinson

If it is treacherous to root against the Premier League clubs, then Barcelona can make traitors of us all

Everton find man for tight spot in Neville

The former Manchester United player reveals why he was determined to take part in the FA Cup semi-final shootout

Five reasons for Ronaldo to stay put

Matt Dickinson on why the Portuguese winger would be a fool to even countenance a move to Real Madrid

Matt Dickinson: appointment a snub to new coaches

An unqualified novice taking charge of one of the country’s biggest clubs is an embarrassment, says Matt Dickinson

A step closer to South Africa

Any problems thrown up by the England team continue to be ironed out with impressive assurance by their manager