Italy Triumph

2006 FIFA World Cup Final

Italy have claimed a fourth World Cup via a penalty shootout after a fiercely even contest finished 1-1 after extra time.

Fabio Grosso was the hero yet again after calmly converting the decisive spot kick, but the match will be remembered as much for Zinedine Zidane's incredible red card in his final ever match.

The two coaches named unchanged line ups with both sides fielding lone strikers in Luca Toni and Thierry Henry respectively, prompting fears this would be yet another disappointingly dull World Cup final.

Those fears would prove to be completely unfounded.

In less than a minute Henry was clattered by the imposing Cannavaro sparking fears the striker might need to be substituted, but with Louis Saha suspended Raymond Domenech must have been relieved to see his star forward recover before long.

Controversy has been almost ever present in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and after just six minutes yet another moment arose to immediately cast the spotlight on Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo.

Florent Malouda jinked into the area and was apparently caught by Marco Materazzi, Elizondo unerringly pointing to the spot although replays suggested it may have been a further example of simulation by the Lyon winger.

Up stepped the great Zinedine Zidane who would retire immediately after the match to produce the most audacious of chipped attempts, and despite it striking the underside the bar the referee correctly ruled it had crossed the line to give Les Bleus a vital early lead.

Conceding early meant the Italians would now have to abandon any thoughts of cautiousness and chase the equaliser, and their long suffering fans would be celebrating with just 19 minutes played.

Camoranesi hesitated when presented with a corner and implored Andrea Pirlo to take it, decisively so as the Milanese playmaker's perfectly weighted cross found the majestic leap of Materazzi who buried his header past Barthez to atone for his earlier misdemeanour and create a wonderful platform for the match.

Eight minutes later lighting very nearly struck twice as another Pirlo corner was headed down by Materazzi but this time the French defence held firm.

Thierry Henry had looked quiet since his early knock but looked to influence proceedings with a typical darting run down the left, however Malouda's resulting shot was far too weak to trouble the infallible Buffon.

Some terrific intricate passing from Italy on the edge of the area climaxed with Gattuso sliding in Luca Toni, but with a second goal looming Lilian Thuram produced a brilliant challenge to remove the immediate threat.

From the resulting corner the Azzurri went even closer, Pirlo's delivery's perpetually dangerous allowing Toni to rise highest only to see his thunderous header crash of the top of the bar as the French held on.

Tensions belatedly rose to the fore with France particularly invoking some uncharacteristically amateurish mistakes, and after such an eventful opening period the fans had to catch their breath as much as the players with the half ending at one goal a piece.

Despite scoring three times Henry hadn't lit up the World Cup as he does the Premiership week in week out but a timely example of his individual threat came immediately after the restart, an explosive run past three defenders culminating in a shot which once again lacked the power to truly trouble the Juventus keeper.

Another Italian corner brought further menace, and from Totti's chipped pass the outstanding Fabio Cannavaro's header looked destined for the net but for a crucial intervention from William Gallas.

After an attack from Italy broke down in the area the French launched a sweeping counter attack principally though the lively Ribery, and as Zidane fed Malouda he went down looking for a second penalty after the challenge of Zambrotta under the eyes of the distinctly unimpressed referee.

Patrick Vieira then picked up an unfortunate injury and needed to be substituted, powerful Lens midfielder Alou Diarra coming on with just nine minutes of World Cup action under his belt.

Marcello Lippi decided on a double switch of his own, firstly bringing on the controversial Daniele De Rossi for his Roma team mate Perrotta after serving a four match ban for elbowing United States forward Brian McBride.

The second change was perhaps more noteworthy, withdrawing the golden boy of Italian football Francesco Totti in what might be the last chance to see his magnificent talents utilised in a national team shirt.

Seconds later a dangerous free-kick from Grosso found Toni who convincingly flashed his header past a despairing Barthez into the net, however the linesman's flag intervened to the horror of the prolific Fiorentina man.

Henry had grown in stature as the second half wore on and after beating his marker he tested Buffon again with a low drive, before long range efforts from Malouda and Ribery continued the attacking intent of a Gallic variety.

Pirlo had been brilliant throughout the tournament in both directing play and set pieces, and his late free-kick from 30 yards dipped and curled narrowly wide of a clearly worried Barthez's upright.

The intensely even contest became tighter towards the end of regulation time with both sides desperate to avoid making a decisive mistake, and as had been the case in the Euro 2000 final extra time would be required.

France took their momentum of the second half into the additional period and looked the likelier side to score, coming close when the impressive Franck Ribery combined well with Malouda before rolling his shot agonisingly wide of Buffon's goal.

Zidane then seemed certain to be the ultimate hero on the ultimate stage.

The French maestro fed Sagnol on the right before meeting the inviting cross himself with a terrific header, only for Buffon to deny him with a stunning one handed save.

But after it appeared the man known as 'Zizou' might have the fairytale ending French fans were dreaming of, it all ended it the most nightmarish of manners for one of the true greats of the modern game.

Seemingly provoked by something Materazzi had said the usually composed Zidane inexplicably produced a moment of insane madness, viciously head butting the defender which after a prolonged wait resulted in a red card to bring an infamous end to the career of the man considered responsible for France's 1998 World Cup success.

David Trezeguet was on to remind the Azzurri of his dramatic winner in the Euro 2000 final and even though it is now a defunct system he was dreaming of what would effectively be a golden goal in the 120th minute, but fellow substitute Wiltord's cross failed to pick out the Italian based striker and the spectre of a penalty shootout was imminent.

After Pirlo and Wiltord confidently struck home the opening penalties, Marco Materazzi continued his enormous influence by making it 2-1 to Italy.

Next up was Trezeguet and like Zidane's earlier effort it crashed against the bar and down, however this time fortune favoured the Italians as the ball stayed out to leave France behind.

The next four penalties were converted with the quality typical of what has been a tremendous tournament, leaving Fabio Grosso with the task to win the World Cup for his nation from 12 yards out.

And the man who scored the vital extra time goal against Germany in the semi final made the headlines on the biggest stage again with a wonderful penalty to send the entire peninsula of Italy into absolute ecstasy.

It was a heartbreaking end for France and in particular Zidane, but few could deny Italy were worthy winners in one of the greatest World Cup finals ever seen.

ITALY: Gianluigi Buffon; Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Cannavaro (captain), Marco Materazzi, Fabio Grosso; Mauro Camoranesi (Alessandro Del Piero, 86min), Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Simone Perrotta (Daniele De Rossi, 61min); Francesco Totti (Vincenzo Iaquinta, 61min), Luca Toni.

FRANCE: Fabien Barthez; Willy Sagnol, Lilian Thuram, William Gallas, Eric Abidal; Patrick Vieira (Alou Diarra, 56min), Claude Makelele; Franck Ribery (David Trezeguet, 100min), Zinedine Zidane (captain), Florent Malouda; Thierry Henry (Sylvain Wiltord, 106min).

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