Italy won the World Cup final on penalties after a dramatic final destined to be remembered for the sensational sending off for French captain Zinedine Zidane in his farewell match.
For only the second time in the history of the tournament, the
sport's greatest prize was settled by spot-kicks after both teams
had finished extra-time deadlocked at 1-1.
Italy defender Fabio Grosso rifled home the Azzurri's winning
penalty to clinch a 5-3 victory in the shoot-out after France
substitute David Trezeguet had missed his side's second spot-kick.
It was the first time Italy had won a penalty shoot-out in four
attempts and it handed Marcello Lippi's men a fourth World Cup
crown to set alongside victories in 1934, 1938 and 1982.
But the penalty denouement seemed almost incidental to the
amazing scenes in the second-half of extra time when Zidane was
sent off for a moment of off-the-ball madness in the 109th minute. Having played majestically throughout, Zidane blew his cool and unleashed a vicious headbutt into the chest of Marco Materazzi that sent the Italy defender crashing to the turf.
Zidane had put France ahead with a penalty after seven minutes, Marco Materazzi equalised twelve minutes later with a powerful header.
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Italy won the World Cup final on penalties after a dramatic final destined to be remembered for the sensational sending off for French captain Zinedine Zidane in his farewell match.
For only the second time in the history of the tournament, the
sport's greatest prize was settled by spot-kicks after both teams
had finished extra-time deadlocked at 1-1.
Italy defender Fabio Grosso rifled home the Azzurri's winning
penalty to clinch a 5-3 victory in the shoot-out after France
substitute David Trezeguet had missed his side's second spot-kick.
It was the first time Italy had won a penalty shoot-out in four
attempts and it handed Marcello Lippi's men a fourth World Cup
crown to set alongside victories in 1934, 1938 and 1982.
But the penalty denouement seemed almost incidental to the
amazing scenes in the second-half of extra time when Zidane was
sent off for a moment of off-the-ball madness in the 109th minute. Having played majestically throughout, Zidane blew his cool and unleashed a vicious headbutt into the chest of Marco Materazzi that sent the Italy defender crashing to the turf.
Zidane had put France ahead with a penalty after seven minutes, Marco Materazzi equalised twelve minutes later with a powerful header.
