Italy and France draw 1-1; Italy wins FIFA World Cup on penalties

Sunday, July 9, 2006

Italy converted five immaculate penalties to win the 2006 FIFA World Cup after a drawn game and thirty minutes of extra-time in the spectacular arena of the Olympiastadion Berlin, Sunday.

Olympiastadion

French captain Zinedine Zidane did not help his team when, 20 minutes into extra time, he lost control of his emotions and got a red card after ramming his head into the chest of Italian player Marco Materazzi.

The game was closely contested with the play makers on both sides - Andrea Pirlo and Zidane, on his last game before retirement - not getting much space with which to dominate the play. For Italy and France Gennaro Gattuso and Claude Makelele tackled hard.

However; both creative midfield stars made important contributions to the only goals of the game. Zidane converted a chipped penalty after five minutes while Pirlo's magnificent corner, a quarter of an hour later, thundered into the net off Marco Materazzi's head.

Materazzi had previously conceded the penalty when he tapped Florent Malouda on his ankle as he ran past him in the penalty area.

In the first half Italy's left and right defensive backs Gianluca Zambrotta and Fabio Grosso penetrated down the French flanks. But after the break France came out the strongest. The flow of the game was disrupted when Patrick Viera pulled-up injured and Marcello Lippi made two substitutions on the hour. A deadlock resulted as teams tired and individuals battled for every ball without thinking too hard about constructing team attacks.

Materazzi was never far from the action in the final and though Italy had 55 percent of ball possession was one of the busier players on the pitch. France were slightly more potent offensively with 13 shots - out-shooting the Azzurri by eight attempts.

FIFA 2006 World Cup winner: Italy

In Extra Time France came closest to a goal - Zidane, unmarked, headed to goal from 12 yards but was tipped over one-handed by Gianluigi Buffon.

Zidane's next contribution to the game was not so graceful and appeared to be sparked by the close marking of the ubiquitous Materazzi. After a verbal altercation the 34-year-old turned around and drove his head violently into the Italian's upper chest.

Materazzi was knocked backwards on the floor but the incident occurred off the ball and was not immediately noticed by the referee or his assistants. Buffon soon ran out of his penalty area to an assistant referee and the game was stopped.

Horacio Elizondo ran to the touchline to consult with officials and returned waving a red card for the violent conduct of Zidane. It is likely FIFA used information from fourth and fifth official to confirm the decision. However FIFA denied video evidence claims alleged by France team's coach Raymond Domenech[1].

The headbutt and red card was Zidane's last action in football as he had said he would retire after the tournament.

A penalty shootout was necessary to decide the winner. Eight shots went in; David Trezeguet missed the one that mattered. His shot hit the crossbar and unlike Zidane's penalty in the first half, bounced down inches the wrong side of the goal line.

While Zidane was hanging his boots up Marco Materazzi scored Italy's third. Grosso, who in the second round had won a last minute penalty against Australia, powered in the fifth to give Italy the cup.

The only goal Marcello Lippi's Italy conceded during free play in the tournament proved to be an own goal from Cristian Zaccardo against the United States of America.

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, on the occasion of his 100th cap, was instrumental in their defensive achievement. Amid wild scenes of joy on the pitch he jumped onto the podium and lifted the trophy, the fourth of Italy's history.

Post match celebrations

Following the match the streets and plazas of Italy were filled with celebrating fans, with flags waving from thousands of cars and motorbikes.

Final

Match 64

July 9, 2006
20:00
  France 1–1   Italy Olympiastadion
Zidane 7' (pen)
Materazzi 19'

Attendance: 69'000

Penalties

  Notes Result   Notes Result
Pirlo High center  
Wiltord Hard to left   Materazzi Hard to left  
Trezeguet Hit crossbar right X De Rossi Hard high right  
Abidal Hard to right   Del Piero Hard high right  
Sagnol Hard center   Grosso Hard high left  

Notes are from the goalkeeper's view.

Formations

France

 
Right wing Right Center Left Left wing
Fabien Barthez (GK)
Eric Abidal Liliam Thuram William Gallas Willy Sagnol 12' 
Claude Makelele 76' 
Florent Malouda 111'  Patrick Viera Franck Ribery
Zinedine Zidane(C)   110' 
Thierry Henry

Substitutes

  • 56' Alou Diarra for Viera
  • 100' David Trezeguet for Ribery
  • 107' Sylvain Wiltord for Henry

Coach: Raymond Domenech

  denotes one goal scored.


Italy

 
Right wing Right Center Left Left wing
Gianluigi Buffon (GK)
Fabio Cannavaro (C) Marco Materazzi  
Gianluca Zambrotta 5'  Gennaro Gattuso Fabio Grosso
Mauro Camoranesi Andrea Pirlo Simone Perrotta
Francesco Totti
Luca Toni

Substitutes

  • 61' Vincenzo Iaquinta for Francesco Totti
  • 61' Daniele De Rossi for Perrotta
  • 86' Alessandro Del Piero for Camoranesi

Coach: Marcello Lippi

  denotes one goal scored.

Officials

  Referee: Elizondo, Horacio   

  Assistant referee: García, Dario

  Assistant referee: Otero, Rodolfo

  Fourth referee: Luís Centalejo Medina

  Fifth referee: Victoriano Carrasco Giraldez

Germany beat Portugal 3-1 to take FIFA World Cup bronze

Sources

  1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/france/5164616.stm


 


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