PATRICK COLLINS: Bolt, Ali, Woods, Pele, Bradman and a precious few others — Jack Nicklaus, certainly, and, in time, Lionel Messi — constitute an elite on whom the term ‘genius’ sits lightly.

PATRICK COLLINS: When his massive contribution has been adequately assessed, Jimmy Hill will be seen as one of the most significant figures in the modern history of British football.

PATRICK COLLINS: Fifty-two years have passed since that February dawn, yet still the cry comes ringing down the decades: ‘Ah shook up the world! Ah shook up the world!’

JAMIE REDKNAPP: To think Jordan Henderson's first official season as Liverpool captain ended with the club finishing eighth in the Premier League is quite remarkable.

JAMIE REDKNAPP: This has been Leicester's first real wobble. But their manager Brendan Rodgers will have been looking forward to this one - Liverpool at the King Power Stadium.

JAMIE REDKNAPP - INSIGHT: Late October 2017, Liverpool went to Tottenham. Harry Kane destroyed Dejan Lovren, who was hooked after 31 minutes, and Jurgen Klopp's side lost 4-1.

The award-winning footballer, 34, enjoyed some quality time with his kids Cristiano Jr, nine, twins Eva and Mateo, two, and Alana - his daughter with girlfriend Georgina - also two, in the bathtub.

The Champions League is a must, rather than a want, for Juventus these days. It's an itch that they cannot scratch, an addiction they cannot kick and Maurizio Sarri knows it is top of his brief to go and deliver it.

Former Argentina forward Diego Maradona suggested Lionel Messi was 'in decline' after Barcelona's 1-1 draw in the Champions League against his old side on Tuesday evening.

Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo could be seen pretending to high five the absent fans as he made his way off the team bus ahead of the match at Allianz Stadium in Turin.

His energy and creativity has brought new life to the United midfield - he was named Premier League Player of the Month for Feburary on Monday and has now spoken about his relationship with Ronaldo.

AS report that Cristiano Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes has spent a significant amount of money buying 200,000 gowns and three ventilators for the hospital in Porto.

The experienced defender has been forced to settle for reduced game time this campaign after the arrival of Ferland Mendy from Lyon, and has long since been linked with a potential switch to Turin.

Cristiano Ronaldo joined Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon in 2003. To improve his game, Mike Phelan has said the club needed to teach him to become a 'team player' to help him to grow.

Cristiano Ronaldo has had a storied career and gone on to become one of the best in the history of the sport. Aaron Ramsey has seen this first-hand since joining Juventus last summer.

ALVISE CAGNAZZO IN ITALY: Despite a difficult adaptation on the pitch in Italy, De Ligt has insisted he and girlfriend Annekee Molenaar are happy in Turin and have no desire to leave the club.

The Juventus talisman is spending time with girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez at the residence with football suspended, and has been attempting to remain fit by using a local stadium to train.

The latest move casts further doubt on whether it will be possible to complete the Serie A campaign - which has 12 full rounds to run - despite Italian FA's determination to do so.

Neymar worked under Unai Emery in his first season at Paris Saint-Germain after completing a world record £200m move to the French club from Barcelona in the summer of 2017.

Cristiano Ronaldo was left frustrated after plans to return to Juventus were delayed by restrictions on his private jet flying out from his Madeira home. But he before he then relaxed with a beverage.

The Portugal star made it back to Italy on Monday and is spending 14 days in quarantine before he can return to training with the Serie A side. Ronaldo uploaded a photo onto his Instagram page.

Filipe Goncalves is a goalkeeper for the youth team of Portugese side Nacional and one day was woken up by a phone call asking him to go and train at the Madeira Stadium in Portugal.

Alvaro Morata is ready to lead Spain's attack at Euro 2016 if called upon after declaring himself fully fit on Thursday. He missed the 1-0 home defeat by Georgia on Tuesday with a thigh injury.

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has admitted that if he doesn't know if goalkeeper David de Gea will be mentally ready to face the Czech Republic in Toulouse on Monday in their Euro 2016 opener.

Andres Iniesta has no concerns over Spain's form as they prepare to begin their Euro 2016 campaign against the Czech Republic.

Czech Republic captain Tomas Rosicky is fit and ready to play in his country's European Championship opener against defending champion Spain on Monday.

Spain may be the holders of the European Championship but after their display at the World Cup, Vicente del Bosque's side will need to prove they still belong among the elite in France.

Day four of this summer's European Championship sees holders Spain in action against the Czech Republic. Belgium's clash with Italy will also be a tasty affair while Ireland are in action.

Reigning European champions Spain begin their quest to retain their crown with a Group D opener against Czech Republic in Toulouse. Follow the action with MATT MALTBY.

IAN LADYMAN AT THE STADIUM MUNICIPAL: The defining moment looked simple but it wasn't. The cross from Andres Iniesta had to be almost perfect and it was, dropping on Pique's head

Spain left it late against Czech Republic but the reigning European champions made it a match-winning start to their campaign in Toulouse.  Here, Sportsmail looks at the five things we learned.

It was around 7.15pm on Monday night when Gerard Pique finally made his way out of the Stadium Municipal in Toulouse and onto the Spain team bus.  But nobody cared - the big man had saved the day.

While Group A, B and C may be taking shape, attention turns to Group D and E on Friday. Italy stormed to a 2-0 victory over Belgium and will want more success against Sweden.

Although the permutations over the third-place teams who will progress are complicated enough to require some serious mathematics the make-up of the individual groups are rather simpler.

Fatih Terim offered an emotional defence of his contribution to Turkish football on the eve of Tuesday night's game against the Czech Republic.

Sportsmail's Martin Keown offers his assessment of Tuesday's two late games at Euro 2016 as Spain face Croatia in Bordeaux and Czech Republic try to reach the last 16 with victory over Turkey.

Belgium made use of their final dress rehearsal ahead of a World Cup qualifier with Estonia in four days by beating the Czech Republic on Monday night.

The Prague-West county court on Tuesday turned two previous suspended sentences for drunk driving into jail terms because of his convictions for other crimes since receiving the initial terms.

The Czech Republic are hoping to exploit a perceived weakness in England's defence by targeting centre back Harry Maguire during their Euro 2020 qualifier on Friday.

Southgate initially gave Dier the chance to run the contact off after a hevay collision with Tomas Soucek, but he was swiftly replaced by Ross Barkley when it was clear he was in discomfort.

Morgan skippered England to Cricket World Cup glory in stunning fashion and is understood to have visited St George's Park as preparations continue for matches against Czech Republic and Bulgaria.

Sportsmail understands Southgate is considering deploying the 20-year-old in the No 10 role for England's Euro 2020 qualifier against Czech Republic in Prague on Friday night. 

SAMI MOKBEL IN PRAGUE: England boss Gareth Southgate is set to keep faith with Jadon Sancho for tonight's Euro 2020 clash in Czech Republic, and will start ahead of Marcus Rashford.

MARTIN KEOWN - INSIGHT: Gareth Southgate will have learned a lot about his players on Friday in what would have been a very disappointing night for him. 

The Real Madrid superstar believes he is now back to his physical peak and playing with a menacing smile on his face as he edges closer to a summer move away from the Spanish capital.

A win at Stadion Vasil Levski will secure England's place in Euro 2020 where the Three Lions will be looking to build on successive semi-final defeats in their last two major tournaments.

The news comes as a big blow to Ryan Giggs - who was hoping the 28-year-old would regain match fitness after not featuring in the national side for 11 months.

Ryan Giggs has criticised brain injury charity Headway for questioning Wales' medical department following an apparent concussion incident involving winger Daniel James.

BY JOE BERNSTEIN IN BUCHAREST: The Uefa dignitary who appeared on Romanian TV and said it would be great if they qualified for Euro 2020 rather let the cat out of the bag.

Gwen Stefani has inspired some serious fandom. And while hitting a red carpet for her Las Vegas show she came upon an admirer who had her face tattooed in detail on one of his calves.