Italy crowned 4th title, Zidane's tragic shame

French midfielder Zinedine Zidane (L) gestures after head butting Italian defender Marco Materazzi during the World Cup 2006 final football match between Italy and France at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium on 09 July 2006. Photo: AFP
French midfielder Zinedine Zidane (L) gestures after head butting Italian defender Marco Materazzi during the World Cup 2006 final football match between Italy and France at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium on 09 July 2006. Photo: AFP



The abiding memory of the 2006 World Cup is Frenchman Zinedine Zidane's headbutt on Marco Matterazi that tipped the psychological balance of a final in favour of Italy, who were hanging on for a 1-1 draw and eventually won 5-4 on penalties.

Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro (C) celebrates with the trophy after the World Cup 2006 final football game Italy vs.France on 09 July 2006 at Berlin stadium. Italy won the 2006 football World Cup by defeating France on penalties. Photo: AFP
Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro (C) celebrates with the trophy after the World Cup 2006 final football game Italy vs.France on 09 July 2006 at Berlin stadium. Italy won the 2006 football World Cup by defeating France on penalties. Photo: AFP



It was the masterful Zidane's retirement match and instead of going out with a second world title he was sent off for the crazed lunge, sparked by a slur to his family late in extra-time, leaving his demoralised teammates to contest the penalty shoot-out.

French midfielder Zinedine Zidane leaves the pitch after getting a red card during the extra time of the FIFA 2006 World Cup final football match between France and Italy at the Olympic stadium in Berlin on 09 July 2006. Photo: AFP
French midfielder Zinedine Zidane leaves the pitch after getting a red card during the extra time of the FIFA 2006 World Cup final football match between France and Italy at the Olympic stadium in Berlin on 09 July 2006. Photo: AFP



It was a tragic shame for Zidane, whose incontestable brilliance in knock-out ties against Spain, Brazil and Portugal won him the player of the tournament award, the headline in the sports daily L'Equipe - "Eternal Regret" - summing up feelings from fans in France and, excepting Italy, the world over.

Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro (L) controls the ball in front of Czech midfielder Jaroslav Plasil (R) during the World Cup 2006 group E football game Czech Republic vs. Italy on 22 June 2006 at Hamburg stadium. Photo: AFP
Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro (L) controls the ball in front of Czech midfielder Jaroslav Plasil (R) during the World Cup 2006 group E football game Czech Republic vs. Italy on 22 June 2006 at Hamburg stadium. Photo: AFP



All guns blazing

The Italians themselves had gone out to Germany staggering from a series of domestic match fixing scandals that inadvertently helped gel the often divided Azzurri camp.

The draw had seemed kind to Italy with only Germany or Argentina standing in their way of the final, both of whom however exploded into the tournament with all guns blazing.

Germany's Miroslav Klose won the golden boot with five strikes while Argentina's Esteban Cambiasso, whose finish to a 24-pass move in the 6-0 destruction of Serbia and Montenegro was one of the best goals ever seen at any World Cup.

German forward Miroslav Klose (R) celebrates next to forward Lukas Podolski after scoring to tie the score at 1 at the Olympic stadium in Berlin on 30 June 2006, during the FIFA World Cup quarter-final match between Germany and Argentina. Photo: AFP
German forward Miroslav Klose (R) celebrates next to forward Lukas Podolski after scoring to tie the score at 1 at the Olympic stadium in Berlin on 30 June 2006, during the FIFA World Cup quarter-final match between Germany and Argentina. Photo: AFP



Argentina's thrilling early form though fell victim to Germany's superior tactics when Jurgen Klinsmann out-thought Jose Peckerman in the quarter-final.

While the hosts' attacking lust then foundered on the rocks of Italy's celebrated defence - and of course the two extra-time goals produced when coach Marcello Lippi threw caution to the wind by fielding four strikers late in extra-time of what was possibly the match of the tournament.

Ten different players scored for Italy whose 'keeper Gianluigi Buffon conceded just twice thanks partly to captain and defender Fabio Cannavaro and ironman midfielder Gennaro Gattuso.

Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho (L) and Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos (2nd L) join Brazilian forward Adriano (C-no 7) and others as they celebrate a goal by Brazilian forward Ronaldo (R) during the round of 16 World Cup football match between Brazil and Ghana at Dortmund's World Cup Stadium on 27 June 2006. Photo: AFP
Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho (L) and Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos (2nd L) join Brazilian forward Adriano (C-no 7) and others as they celebrate a goal by Brazilian forward Ronaldo (R) during the round of 16 World Cup football match between Brazil and Ghana at Dortmund's World Cup Stadium on 27 June 2006. Photo: AFP



The three Ronnies

In the other half of the draw, much fancied England once again went out in the quarter finals, this time to Portugal, whose chief tormentors were Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco, Maniche and Luis Figo, but their niggling run, in which they brought out the worst in many of their opponents, was ended by France in a semi-final decided 1-0 after a hotly-disputed penalty.

Favourites Brazil flopped, largely due to Ronadinho choosing the wrong moment to go off the boil, also losing 1-0 to France in a match marked by the brilliance of Zidane.

Thousands of supporters of the German team watch the beginning of the Fifa World Cup quarter-final match Germany vs Argentina on a giant screen at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Photo: AFP
Thousands of supporters of the German team watch the beginning of the Fifa World Cup quarter-final match Germany vs Argentina on a giant screen at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Photo: AFP



Ronaldo's lack of fitness had unsettled Brazil and although he did score three goals to become the tournament's top all-time scorer with 15, his team never looked like champions.

The last word must go to the hosts Germany for perfect stage management that sparked the good natured party mood and helped them shake off the stigma of WWII to such an extent they felt free to once again wave their national flag with pride.