World Cup final - Italy 1-1 France (Italy won 5-3 on penalties)

Italy have won the 2006 World Cup final in Germany, on a penalty shootout. The final score after extra time was 1-1, Zidane putting France ahead early on with a penalty, before Materazzi equalised for the Italians a short time later. The Italian full back, Fabio Grosso scored the all important penalty which means Italy have won the World Cup for the fourth time. The career of Zinedine Zidane, unfortunately ended in disgrace. In injury time, in his last ever football match, he was given a red card for an outrageous head butt on Marco Materazzi. This is a sad way for such a magnificent player to end his career. France were overall the better side, and penalties is the cruellest way to lose in the World Cup final. But for now, the World Cup belongs to Italy, which is an outstanding achievement, bearing in mind the state of football in their home country.

On June 9th, the World Cup 2006 in Germany began. 1 month, 63 matches, 145 goals, 27 red cards, 323 yellow cards and 30 eliminated teams later, the tournament has reached its climax in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. The biggest game of football in the world, with two unlikely competitors. Firstly, an Italian side, who seem motivated by the huge football scandal back home. And secondly, their opponents, an ageing French squad inspired by Zinedine Zidane. After their poor performances against Switzerland and South Korea, very few people would have expected them to make it this far.

Beforehand, some of the statistics would have led you to believe that in terms of entertainment, the game may not be the best. Both teams have very solid defences, only conceding 3 goals between them in the previous 12 matches of the World Cup. Also, both sides were playing 4-5-1 formations, which may have led you to believe that the two sides would sit back and defend. Luckily, they didn’t, and this set up a dramatic and tense World Cup final, eventually being decided on penalties.

Within a minute, there was drama. Thierry Henry went down after a clash with the Italian captain, Fabio Cannavaro, and was brought off the pitch. The stretchers were quickly brought out, and a replacement, David Trezeguet, started warming up on the touchline. Fortunately, Henry was fine, and within a minute, he was back on the pitch.

With just 5 minutes gone, the first major incident of the final occurred. French midfielder, Florent Malouda burst into the Italian box, and was brought down by Marco Materazzi. The referee had no hesatation in awarding a penalty to France. Up stepped France’s inspirational midfielder, Zinedine Zidane, who just about scored the penalty to give France an early lead. The ball hit the crossbar, bounced down behing the goal line, before bouncing back up, hitting the bar and landing in the hands of Gianluigi Buffon. However, the referee saw that the ball had bounced behind the line, and rightfully awarded a goal. First blood went to France.

3 minutes later, they were almost gifted a second. Marco Materazzi, who had given away the penalty, headed a cross from Willy Sagnol. The ball spun, but Buffon scrambled his away across his goal mouth to avoid a calamitous mistake from the tall Italian centre back.

However, in the 18th minute, Materazzi made up for this, and went from hero to zero with a powerful headed goal. Andrea Pirlo sent a high cross into the French penalty area. Materazzi climbed high, and used his height to good effect as he nodded in the cross, to bring Italy level. The defender then pointed to the sky in celebration, before being mobbed by his team mates.

9 minutes later, Materazzi almost scored a carbon copy of that goal. Andrea Pirlo once again crossed in a corner from the same side, and Materazzi rose high to head the ball down. This time, the ball was blocked Lilian Thuram, but France looked frail from set pieces.

With 35 minutes gone, Italy had yet another chance from a corner. Beforehand, Francesco Totti had played in Luca Toni, but his strike was excellently blocked by Lilian Thuram, who looked very solid for France, both tonight, and in the whole of the World Cup. From the resulting corner, Andrea Pirlo once again fired a decent cross into the penalty area, and Luca Toni headed the ball against the crossbar. This asked questions about France’s set piece defending, none less than ‘have France actually practiced defending corners?’ You wouldn’t know it following their first half display!

So, with neither side able to score an additional goal, the score line at half time was a goal a piece. France started the better of the two sides, but Italy were the better team overall, particularly in the second part of the first half.

France were the better side in the first half, and they created a number of early chances. Thierry Henry burst forward a number of times, but was unable to find the goal.

With 52 minutes gone, France had a good penalty appeal turned down. Florent Malouda appeared to have been brought down in the box, but the French appeal were snubbed by the referee.

However, Italy were the side who found the back of the net first, with Luca Toni scoring a header after 61 minutes. Toni headed the ball past Barthez from a fair distance, but he was ruled to be offside following an Italian free kick.

This caused the game to really open up, and a minute later, France had a another chance. Thierry Henry once again found a way into the penalty area, made space, but his powerful shot was saved by Gianluigi Buffon, and went out for a corner.

The only other clear cut chance in the second half fell to Andrea Pirlo after 76 minutes. His curling free kick went very narrowly wide of the French goal, and for a moment he thought he’d scored.

And so, with neither side able to find a winner, the game went into extra time.

Interestingly enough, France seemed to have more energy and stamina in extra time, which is interesting bearing in mind the age of their squad, and the fact that Italy have had a day longer to prepare for the final.

The two best chances in the first half of extra time both fell to France. The first game after 98 minutes. Franck Ribery skipped forward majestically, and after some great interplay with Florent Malouda, he opened up space and hit a shot just wide of the Italian post.

Five minutes later, Zidane came very close to getting his second goal of the match. Willy Sagnol sent a cross into the Italian penalty area, and Zidane connected well with it. Unfortunately for the French, the header was straight at Buffon. Either side of him, and France may just have lifted the trophy.

However, Zidane went from hero to zero for Francein the second half of extra time. Zidane head butted Marco Materazzi following a couple of words between the two, and was shown the red card after a couple of minutes of deliberating between the match officials. This is a tragic way for the career of one of the greatest footballers of recent times to end. Zidane seemed to have lost the plot, and his head butt was disgusting. It could have been very different however, if only he had’ve kept his cool.

The match continued, and the French fans were incensed! They clearly weren’t happy to see Zidane’s career end this way, and made constant whistles throughout the rest of the match.

Italy, despite having the numerical advantage, seemed very fatigued, and were unable to find the energy to get a crucial goal.

Eventually, the final whistle came, and the World Cup final was decided on a penalty shootout.

Italy went first, and Andrea Pirlo stepped up to take the opening penalty. His shot went straight down the middle of the French goal, Barthez dived the wrong way. Italy 1-0 France.

Next it was Sylvain Wiltord’s turn for France. He made no mistake, and fired his penalty down the right hand side of the Italian goal. Italy 1-1 France.

Marco Materazzi seemed to be involved in everything else that happened in the game, and was now involved in the penalty shootout. His penalty was nicely put away, straight down the right hand side of the goal. Barthez dived the right way, but was unable to stop it. Italy 2-1 France.

David Trezeguet took the next penalty for France. His shot smashes against the Italian bar, bounced down onto the goal line and out of danger. Trezeguet missed, to give Italy the advantage. Italy 2-1 France.

The next taker was Daniele de Rossi. He scored with an excellent penalty, fired powerfully into the top left corner of the goal. Barthez dived the right way, but had no chance! Italy 3-1 France.

Eric Abidal took took the next penalty for France, and coolly slotted the ball down the left hand side, Buffon dived the wrong way. Italy 3-2 France.

Up stepped Allesandro del Piero for Italy. He struck his penalty into the left hand side of the goal, Barthez dived the wrong way. Italy 4-2 France.

If France missed the next penalty, Italy would win. Knowing this, defender, Willy Sagnol stepped up to confidently put his penalty away down the left side of the goal. Italy 4-3 France.

The final and crucial penalty was taken by Fabio Grosso, the man who scored very late on against Germany to put Italy in the final. If he scored this, Italy would win the World Cup. He stepped up, and scored an excellent penalty, smashed into the right hand corner of the goal, Barthez had no chance. Italy 5-3 France, Italy had won the world cup.

And so, the Italian celebrations began. The French players received their consolation medals first, and looked devastated, having looked the better side overall. Italy then triumphantly stepped up to the podium to receive their winners medals. After a long wait, Fabio Cannavaro, one of the best players of the tournament, lifted the trophy for Italy, for the fourth time in their history. The Italian celebrations will go on long into the night. Scandal? What Scandal? These Italians players have just one thing on their minds, the fact that they had won the World Cup for the first time since 1982.

Italy 1-1 France

Materazzi 18 ... Zidane 7

Penalties:

Pirlo scored ... Wiltord scored
Materazzi scored ... Trezeguet missed
De Rossi scored ... Abidal scored
Del Piero scored ... Sagnol scored
Grosso scored