Here are two quick questions.

First, who was Spain's key player for their World Cup success in 2010?

Second, who was Germany's key player for their World Cup success in 2014?

There is, of course, no right answer to either question.

For Spain you could name Xavi Hernandez for orchestrating the midfield play, Andres Iniesta for his mesmeric attacking midfield play or David Villa for his goal return.

Similarly, for Germany you could pinpoint Manuel Neuer's sweeper-keeping, Philipp Lahm's...

It's funny how quickly things change in football. One moment Antoine Griezmann was specifically rating his chances of joining Manchester United, the next the transfer seemed off entirely, thanks to the upholding of a transfer ban that means Atletico Madrid wouldn't be able to sign a replacement for their best player.

United quickly reacted by briefing that they were instead looking for a No. 9, rather than a deeper or wider forward like Griezmann. Beyond that sounding suspiciously like sour grapes...

Real Madrid ripped Juventus to shreds with a scintillating second-half display to win their 12th European Cup in Cardiff on Saturday night.

The Italians had largely managed to repel the Spanish champions in the first period, thanks to Massimiliano Allegri's 4-4-2 shape. Their only weak spot seemed to be right-back Andrea Barzagli, who got targeted by Karim Benzema and Isco.

That did not prevent Cristiano Ronaldo from scoring the opener, but Juve responded by equalising with an attack down the left,...

Saturday night's Champions League final between Real Madrid and Juventus has the makings of a true classic: two league champions, two excellent sides playing a very different brand of football and plenty of fascinating individual battles. Here are four that may have a significant bearing upon the destination of the European Cup.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL: REAL MADRID 4-1 JUVENTUS

- Report | Ronaldo hits 600th career goal | Bale's joy
- Marcotti: Real show their greatness | History made in Cardiff
- WATCH: Ronaldo's brace (U.S.) | UCL sights & sounds (U.S.)
- Play of the Day: Mandzukic's golazo | WATCH: Ronaldo heroic
- Ogden: Ronaldo comes full circle | Jones: Buffon's woe
- WATCH: Ramos' son fits in the cup | Real lift the trophy
- Buffon: It all went wrong | Ratings: Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Andrea Barzagli

Even by his standards, Cristiano Ronaldo's form throughout this season's Champions League knockout stages has been incredible....

In his new book, "The Mixer," Michael Cox looks at the tactical evolution of the Premier League and how the game has developed over the last quarter century. Here, he details Ruud Gullit's sensational arrival in English football.

English football was changed significantly in the mid-1990s, courtesy of the arrival of top-class foreign players who demonstrated the value of different roles, positions and styles, and encouraged managers to think outside the box -- and outside boxy 4-4-2 formations.

A...

One of Juventus' key performers en route to this weekend's Champions League final against Real Madrid has been Mario Mandzukic, who has performed a magnificent job in a hugely unfamiliar left-wing role, having been accustomed to playing as a centre-forward over the course of his career.

But a player being deployed out of position for a European Cup-winning side is nothing new. Here are five examples of players, who sacrificed their game for the good of the team on the biggest stage.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL: REAL MADRID 4-1 JUVENTUS

- Report | Ronaldo hits 600th career goal | Bale's joy
- Marcotti: Real show their greatness | History made in Cardiff
- WATCH: Ronaldo's brace (U.S.) | UCL sights & sounds (U.S.)
- Play of the Day: Mandzukic's golazo | WATCH: Ronaldo heroic
- Ogden: Ronaldo comes full circle | Jones: Buffon's woe
- WATCH: Ramos' son fits in the cup | Real lift the trophy
- Buffon: It all went wrong | Ratings: Real Madrid

David Beckham:...