| Italy 1 | v | France 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goals: | (19 mins) M. Materazzi | (7 mins) Z. Zidane | |
| Bookings: | Yellow: (5 mins) G. Zambrotta | Yellow: (10 mins) W. Sagnol | |
| Yellow: (75 mins) A. Diarra | |||
| Red: (109 mins) Z. Zidane |
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Fabio Cannavaro leads his Italian side up to be presented football's most famous trophy. He mounts the rostrum and thrusts the cup into the air to proclaim Italy as 2006 World Cup winners!!!
Grosso wins the World Cup for Italy by sending Barthez the wrong way making it 5-3 to Italy on penalties. It's the fourth time Italy have won the trophy, just one less than Brazil.
Sagnol sends Buffon the wrong way. 4-3 Italy.
Del Piero converts. Four excellent penalties so far from Italy. It's now 4-2
Abidal slots it in the bottom left corner. It's 3-2 to Italy.
A rocket penalty into the top left corner from De Rossi. 3-1 Italy
Trezeguet hits the bar. 2-1 Italy
Materazzi cooly puts the ball in the bottom right corner. 2-1 to Italy.
Wiltord hammers his penalty into the bottom right corner. 1-1
Pirlo takes the first penalty and scores, straight down the middle. It's 1-0 to Italy
The last penalty shootout between the two sides was in 1998 and France won. Italy have also lost their previous three penalty shootouts.
The World Cup Final will be decided on penalty kicks for the second time in history. Zidane, Henry and Vieira who are all capable penalty takers, will not have the opportunity. All eyes will be on the world class Buffon and the eccentric Barthez, who will come out on top? The big talking point of the game is Zinedine Zidane's moment of madness however. All of the magic he has given to the game may be forgotten by the French fans should France fail to come out victorious after penalties.
Malouda receives the ball from Makelele and picks out Wiltord. He runs with the ball and gets into a good position in the box. He tries to cross the ball for Trezeguet but instead, puts the ball over the bar.
Every touch from a French player is met with cheers and every touch from an Italian player is met with jeers from a large section of the crowd.
Wiltord and Trezeguet have not made the desired impact on the game up-front and may not get the service required following the departure of Zidane.
Raymond Domenech is furious on the touchline, kicking around water bottles and abusing the referee.
The French crowd have obviously not seen the incident and are livid. The ten men of France are raising their game however. Zidane becomes the fourth player to be sent off in a World Cup final.
An incident in the centre of the pitch between Zidane and Materazzi as the French skipper head butts the defender in the chest. None of the officials appear to have seen this. The referee speaks to his officials and shows Zidane the red card. His France career ends in disgrace.
Thierry Henry may be spared the horror of taking a penalty as he is brought off the pitch. He looks empty and too tired to even walk off the pitch. Sylvain Wiltord will add legs up-front as he brought on.
Italy, who apart from Cannavaro look very tired, may be playing for penalties in the second period as they kick-off.
Just a short break for half time now and the French, also with a substitute to spare, look to have legs on the Italians. Henry looks in agony lying on the ground, presumably cramp.
Zidane, in his last game for his country, is playing out of his skin. He plays the ball out wide to Sagnol who looks up and sees the skipper wide open running into the box. He picks him out and Zidane gets his head to the ball and directs it at goal, but Buffon gets a strong hand to the ball to turn it over the bar.
Some of the players may be feeling deja vu after the European Championships in 2000 when the two sides went into extra-time when the score was 1-1. David Trezeguet, the scorer of the winner in that game, is brought on in replacement of Ribery.
Malouda gets a neat flick on the ball to direct it into the path of Ribery who, with one touch out of his feet on the edge of the penalty area, slides the ball towards the bottom right hand corner. For a split second, it looked like it was going in but the ball grazes the post.
France are retaining possession well and are passing the ball around patiently. Sagnol tries to wriggle his way into the penalty area but an Italian wall of blue stops him.
Malouda looks lively at the moment and this time he tries to work his way into the box. He knocks the ball through the legs of Cannavaro but Gattuso blocks the winger in his path, taking a blow to the cheek in the process.
Malouda does not look tired at all and dribbles his way down the left flank, somehow managing to stay on his feet. He cannot get past Cannavaro however, but he wins a corner for his side. Zidane takes it, but it comes to nothing.
France kick-off the first half of extra-time. During the break, Raymond Domenech was stood metres away from his players who were in a huddle and having a team talk amongst themselves.
Nothing spectacular was produced in the second half. France were the stronger side in the first 20 minutes, but the final 25 had extra-time written all over it. Extra-time and maybe the dreaded penalties must be played to try and seperate the two sides who look petrified of putting more men forward to try and win the game.
France attack looking for a last minute winner, but the players must already have extra-time on the minds as Ribery crosses and not a single player is in the box.
Iaquinta makes a darting run through the centre and Gattuso tries to put the ball in his path, but Thuram and Gallas are hot on his trail and shield the ball allowing Barthez to collect it.
The chants from the Italy fans' come because Alessandro Del Piero looks ready to be brought on. It is Camoranesi's number that is put up on the board and he makes way for the Italian favourite.
Henry twists and turns on the left side of the penalty area and finds a way around the back of the Italy defence. He spots Zidane in the box and attempts to pick him out with a cross, but Cannavaro is onto it yet again to hoof the ball clear.
Zidane takes a corner for France but it does not beat the man at the front post. His header is only as far as Ribery however and he strikes the ball cleanly, but there are too many players in the box and his shot is blocked.
Zidane will carry on after receiving treatment and the French fans give a huge sigh of relief all around the arena.
Zidane goes up for a header but Cannavaro climbs up his back to head the ball away. Straight away, the veteran midfielder goes down to ground holding his shoulder and signals to the bench with a grimace. This is worrying for France.
Italy have a free-kick a good 25-yards out. Pirlo steps up and curls the ball over the ball and towards the bottom left corner. Barthez is beaten but fortunately for him the ball misses the post by a matter of inches. Pirlo and Barthez both thought the ball was in for a split second there.
The referee is taking none of Alou Diarra's dissent and cautions the midfielder.
France have another free-kick in a similar position to the one just a few minutes ago. Zidane takes it again but this time he gets too much power behind it and the ball sails over the players' heads and out for a goal-kick.
Camoranesi chips the ball into the box and finds Toni who, with his back to goal, chests the ball before turning and striking the ball on the volley. Barthez saves, but the Italian striker was penalised for handball anyway.
Cannavaro gifts France a free-kick in a good position. Zidane delivers the ball with pace and causes problems for Buffon who flaps at the ball and gets the slightest touch to take it away from danger.
A mistake from an Italy player gives the ball away to Henry. About 30-yards from goal he plays the ball into the path of Ribery who tries an adventurous shot but the ball flies high, wide and into the crowd.
Italy attack and are doing everything in their power to get crosses into the box. This time, Iaquinta gets his head to the ball and he looks for Pirlo but the substitute puts too much power into the header and it bounces out for a goal-kick.
Henry dribbles his way into the penalty area and makes room for a shot and he tries to beat Buffon at his near post, but the keeper is on his toes and palms the shot away from goal.
Pirlo receives the ball on the left wing and sees Toni open in the box. He crosses and picks out the striker who nods the ball into the net and runs off to the corner flag to celebrate, only to turn round and see the linesman's flag is raised.
A double substitution from Lippi and he brings off Totti and Simone Perrotta who have both been very quiet. Vincenzo Iaquinta and Daniele De Rossi - who has been suspended for the previous four matches for Italy - replace them.
Vieria is hobbling and cannot continue. He walks off the field dejectedly and 24-year-old Eric Abidal is brought on to replace the big midfielder.
Malouda has become a different player over the past five minutes. He somehow manages to work his way to the byline and gets a cross along the edge of the six-yard box but it is just behind Henry who had made a good run to the back post.
France counter-attack and find themselves in a three versus two situation and Ribery is on the ball. He slides the ball left into the path of Zidane who, first time, plays a perfect through ball to Malouda but Cannavaro performs a superb sliding challenge to knock the ball out for a corner.
France are looking the more lively side in the opening stages of the second period and everything is coming through Henry. Malouda finds him in the box with a cross but this time, the Italy defence closes the striker down straight away and win the ball off him.
Henry, who has a lot of responsibility up-front on his own, eases past the Italian defence again. Malouda is forward with him and as Henry gets into a good position he tries to cut the ball back to him, but the left winger is not on the same wavelength and Cannavaro beats him to the ball. Henry is furious at the lack of movement.
Italy win another corner and this time it is taken short. Pirlo swivels on the ball and crosses it to the far post, causing all sorts of problems in the box but after following his cross in, Pirlo is caught offside.
Henry picks up the ball about 25-yards from goal and bursts through the Italy defence, taking the ball past three defenders that look too scared of giving away a penalty to go anywhere near the ball. Henry's final shot is straight at the goalkeeper - what a goal that would have been.
The two sides reappear and look refreshed after the interval. Neither side has made any changes to the line-up and France kick-off the second half.
Raymond Domenech looks more anxious than Marcello Lippi as the two teams head back to the dressing rooms for the half-time team talks. Domenech must do something to get star man Zidane into the game as he has been battled out of it by Gattuso in the opening 45 minutes. He may make changes on the wings as France have not made any progression on the flanks and also needs to sort out the defensive arrangements from set-pieces. Italy looked very strong as the first-half came to a close and Lippi should be happy with his sides performance, except for the freak incident that caused the penalty from Materazzi.
Zambrotta takes the ball down the right flank and lofts the ball over the French defence for Mauro Camoranesi who is in a great position, but the linesman lifts his flag as the midfielder had strayed offside.
Zidane picks out Ribery who has made a good run, but his pass is just a little too hard and the midfielder is forced into the corner flag by two Italian defenders who hassle him and eventually win the ball back.
A Mexican wave flows around the stadium and Totti chips the ball forward looking for Toni, but Barthez comes a long way off his line to smother the ball.
Zidane seems to have three players around him every time he picks up the ball. He cannot find space to make a pass and tries to dribble his way out of danger, but the Italy defence hold steady and Cannavaro challenges the midfield maestro with a fierce challenge and wins the ball back for his country.
France win their first corner of the game and get big players Vieria and Thuram forward. However, the corner is too high and drifts over everybody's head and out for a goal-kick.
Italy have another corner and the French defence look rattled. Pirlo delivers a similar cross and Materazzi takes away two players leaving space for Luca Toni who gets a strong head to the ball and the ball rattles the crossbar.
Vieria gets forward and gives the ball to Henry on the edge of the 18-yard box. He tries to turn but is path is blocked. Zidane somehow finds the ball at his feet and chips the ball into the box, but Henry gives away a free-kick.
Simone Perrotta goes down to ground on the left flank seemingly for no reason. Boos ring around the stadium as France continue to pass the ball forward, but the referee stops play and summons help from the Italy bench.
Henry is playing out of his skin tonight. For the second time tonight he simply shrugs off an Italy player, this time Gennaro Gattuso. He dances around with the ball on the corner of the box and lays the ball off for Malouda, but his shot lacks power and Buffon saves it with ease.
Italy win a free-kick around 40-yards from goal and Totti looks like he is lining up for a shot. Even with Fabien Barthez in goal, it would take something spectacular from this distance. He strikes the ball but the wall does it's job and France regain possession.
Italy have another corner and all eyes are on Materazzi. Pirlo delivers exactly the same corner as the one that produced the goal and again picks out Materazzi. The defender gets his head to the ball and directs it towards the bottom-right corner of the net, but Claude Makelele gets his foot to the ball before it reaches the line.
Henry shows the skills he is capable off. He shrugs off Totti and plays a wonderful through ball for Franck Ribery who tries to cut the ball back to Vieria, but Cannavaro blocks the ball and Italy clear their lines.
The French are stopping Italy from playing football and are closing them down superbly.
We look to have a great World Cup Final on our hands now and the Italy fans have regained their energy. The game has picked up a fast tempo and more goals look sure to come.
Italy win a corner that Andrea Pirlo will take. He delivers a perfect corner towards the far corner of the six-yard box and Materazzi climbs fantastically to head the ball home. The defender has made amends for giving away the penalty for his side.
Sixteen minuets have been played and Francesco Totti looks frustrated. The influential Italian has touched the ball just once so far.
Italy are enjoying a decent spell of posession now but get trapped by the corner flag by the French defence. Eventually, Andrea Pirlo takes the ball out of play for a France throw-in.
Many predicted a tight affair here, but the early goal and two bookings inside the opening 10 minutes will ensure that we're not going to be experiencing a dull encounter
Another hefty challenge, this time from Willy Sagnol who went through Gianluca Zambrotta. Both players go down and the Frenchman picks up a yellow card.
The Italy fans have been silenced. It has not been the cagey start that most expected and Materazzi is having a nightmare. Just minutes after giving away the penalty, the big defender tries a backwards header to Gianluigi Buffon but the keeper only just gets a hand to the ball and turns it around the post for a corner.
Zidane runs up and delicately chips the penalty which bounces off the crossbar and, according to the linesman, behind the line. The Italy players are furious but the French are ecstatic.
Henry is back in action and flicks the ball on to Florent Malouda who is challenged by Marco Materazzi. The midfielder goes down and wins a penalty for France.
An early booking for Gianluca Zambrotta from the Argentinian referee after he caught Liliam Thuram with a lunging tackle on the edge of the French penalty box.
Thierry Henry takes the field again with a light jog, bringing a cheer and applause from the French in the crowd.
Drama in the first minute as France front-man Thierry Henry goes down in the centre circle lies on the floor and the stretcher is summoned. He looks dazed and walks off the field slowly and goes to ground again on the side of the pitch.
Referee Horacio Elizondo, who sent off England's Wayne Rooney against Portugal, gets the World Cup final underway in Berlin and not a single seat can be spared in the 69.000 capacity arena. This is the first World cup final since the war in which neither Brazil or Germany have been involved. The atmosphere is electric and the arena is a sea of the blue of both France and Italy. Both coaches name unchanged sides from their victories in the semi-finals. Zinedine Zidane and Liliam Thuram will play their final game for their country and are both looking to lift the World Cup trophy for the second time in eight years. Manchester United striker Lous Saha striker played just ten minutes of World Cup football and still manages to miss out on the biggest game of his career after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament in France?s semi-final game against Portugal. The France starting XI looks like: Barthez; Sagnol, Abidal, Thuram, Gallas; Makelele, Vieira, Malouda, Ribery, Zidane; Henry. Italy will be hoping to spoil the party for France this evening and are looking to lift the trophy for the first time since 1982. Italy?s iron-like defence, containing Fabio Cannavaro who has had an outstanding tournament, has been a major talking point in the pre-match build-up. But will they be able to handle the silky skills of Zidane or the pace of Thierry Henry? The Italy line-up: Buffon; Zambrotta, Grosso, Cannavaro, Materazzi; Gattuso, Camoranesi, Pirlo, Perrotta; Totti; Toni.