LONDON — Apart from England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 the year could hardly have gone better for English football. In fact, the World Cup-winning year of 1966 excepted, 2008 is probably the most successful 12 months the sport has ever enjoyed.
Manchester United was crowned Premier League, European and World Champions. Cristiano Ronaldo picked up individual awards as the best player in England, Europe and the world.
The Champions League final, a game of high quality, entertainment and excitement, saw two English teams — United and Chelsea — captivate a worldwide audience with John Terry's penalty miss providing a sad but dramatic climax.