Italy crowned 4th title, Zidane's tragic shame
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.