What do Steven Gerrard and Ashley Ward have in common?

Apart from the obvious that both have done very well out of football.

Watching the Champions' League final, another similarity struck me between the two "legends".

Seeing Gerrard fluff that great chance to equalise in the second half reminded me of a Ward miss at Arsenal a few years back.

Some may recall the night game at Highbury in late January. It was 0-0 and only a few minutes old when Ward was sent clear by a superb through ball from Peter Atherton. Only David Seaman stood between him and giving rock-bottom City a shock lead.

The big snag, though, was coming in from the left side and, instead of taking it with his weaker foot, Ward tried to work the ball on to his right - and clipped it a yard or so wide.

Now fast forward over six years to Athens on Wednesday night and Gerrard is in the same position. He does try to take it with his left - and the ball barely reaches Dida in the AC Milan goal.

A golden opportunity is missed. Effectively, Liverpool's cup dream is over.

Even a player as gifted as Gerrard is clearly uncomfortable with using his other' foot. Why is that?

After that Arsenal game, I asked the then-City boss Jim Jefferies why Ward did not practise more with his left. He looked back at me as if I'd just grown another head.

But why is it so strange to expect our footballers to be able to play with both feet?