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Italy crowned world champions after penalty win over France
Head coach of the Italian team Marcello Lippi holds up the 2006 World Cup trophy after Italy won their final football match against France at Berlin?s Olympic Stadium, 09 July 2006. Italy won 5-3 on penalties. AFP PHOTO/ODD ANDERSEN
Referee Horacio Elizondo of Argentina (R) issues a red card to French midfielder Zinedine Zidane (L) after he committed a penalty in extra time during the World Cup 2006 final football match between Italy and France at Berlin's Olympic Stadium, 09 July 2006. The match was tied 1-1 as play continued in extra time. AFP PHOTO / DANIEL GARCIA
Italy are the new world champions thanks to a dramatic penalty shootout win over France when the match finished 1-1 after extra-time in Berlin on Sunday.
A pulsating match came down to spotkicks and was decided when David Trezeguet missed the second kick allowing Italy to run out 5-3 winners as they potted five out of five.
Andrea Pirlo, Marco Materazzi who scored the equaliser, Daniele De Rossi, Alessandro Del Piero and Fabio Grosso all scored from 12 yards out to send the Italians into celebration and the French into mourning.
The match was marred when Zinedine Zidane finished his career in controversy after being sent-off in second half extra-time for headbutting Marco Materazzi which the linesman spotted and relayed the message to the referee.
It was a disappointing way for the former world player of the year to finish his career after being tipped as a legend to lie alongside the likes of Pele and Maradona.
Italian defender Marco Materazzi (C-no 23) hits a header past French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez (back L) for his team's first goal as French midfielder Patrick Vieira (R) defends during the World Cup 2006 final football match between Italy and France at Berlin's Olympic Stadium, 09 July 2006. The match was tied 1-1 at half-time. AFP PHOTO / PATRICK HERTZOG
An emotional Lippi paid tribute to his players after the victory.
"I just want to say thank you to them," he said. "They gave absolutely everything they had. It is just a fantastic feeling, it is something that you can only get in this job.
"It is so much more than winning the Champions League or winning the Championship. It means we are world champions."
A controversial penalty from French captain Zidane fired France into the lead on seven minutes but Italy hit back through defender Materazzi who equalised in the 19th minute.
An entertaining opening 45 minutes saw Italy begin to get on top in front of a packed 69,000-crowd at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.
Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon watches as the ball bounces over the line for a goal from a penalty kick by French midfielder Zinedine Zidane (not pictured) in the first half during the World Cup 2006 final football match between Italy and France at Berlin's Olympic Stadium, 09 July 2006. France were leading 1-0 in the first half. AFP PHOTO / DANIEL GARCIA
France took the lead in extraordinary circumstances after only seven minutes. Florent Malouda raced into the Italian area and was clipped at pace by centre-half Materazzi and sent flying.
Replays appeared to indicate there had been minimal contact and though Materazzi was clearly pulling out of the challenge, Argentinian referee Horacio Elizondo pointed immediately to the spot.
But there was more drama when Zidane stepped up to take the penalty. The Real Madrid star normally prefers to bury his spot-kicks low and wide but this time he opted to float a delicate dink down the middle.
Zidane's audacity nearly backfired however when his shot beat Gianluigi Buffon but crashed back off the underside of the bar.
French forward David Trezeguet (R) walks past French head coach Raymond Domenech at the end of the World Cup 2006 final football game Italy vs.France, 09 July 2006 at Berlin stadium. Italy won the 2006 football World Cup by defeating France on penalties. AFP PHOTO / PATRICK HERTZOG
Italy scrambled a clearance, but Elizondo had a clear view of the ball coming down well over the line and the goal stood.
The Italians demonstrated their character by recovering their composure superbly and began to control the ball in midfield, with the dogged Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo quickly settling into their rhythm.
And on 19 minutes Italy got the equaliser their positive play deserved. Pirlo swung in a corner from the right and Materazzi leapt high above Patrick Vieira to crash home a thunderous header past French keeper Fabien Barthez.
Devastated France coach Raymond Domenech said the Italians had targeted Zidane for rough treatment.
"To see him finish his career in this way is sad. He has had a great career and a great World Cup," Domenech said.
"When one takes what he had to for 80 minutes and the referee doesn't do anything, one understands. You can't excuse it but you can understand it."
Domenech said he could not take any satisfaction from the fact that France outplayed Italy for long periods.
"I am deeply disappointed. On the merits of the match we deserved it. Only victory is beautiful and we missed out.
"We can say it wasn't too bad but it is the Italians who are the world champions. They played for the penalties because that was the only option for them."