July 9, 2006: The Olympiastadion in Berlin witnessed one of the most dramatic and controversial finals in World Cup history as Italy faced France for the ultimate prize in football.
Before 69,000 spectators and a global television audience of over one billion viewers, two of football's most storied nations battled for supremacy in a match that would be remembered as much for its controversy as for its quality.
First Half
France struck first in the 7th minute. Florent Malouda was brought down by Marco Materazzi in the penalty area, and Zinedine Zidane stepped up to take the spot-kick. His chipped "Panenka" penalty struck the crossbar, bounced down, and crossed the line - a moment of audacious skill that gave France the lead.
Italy responded in the 19th minute when Materazzi, ironically the player who had conceded the penalty, rose highest to head Andrea Pirlo's corner past Fabien Barthez. The Olympiastadion erupted as the Azzurri leveled the score.
Both teams created chances before the interval, with Lilian Thuram clearing off the line from Toni and Trezeguet testing Buffon, but the teams went into halftime level at 1-1.
Second Half and Extra Time
The second half saw France gradually assert control. Zidane, performing magnificently in what would be his final match, twice came close to scoring. His towering header in the 104th minute appeared destined for the net before an outstanding save from Gianluigi Buffon.
Then came the moment that would define the final.
The Headbutt
In the 110th minute, Zidane and Materazzi exchanged words near the center circle. What Materazzi said to provoke the French captain remains disputed - some reports suggested insults about Zidane's family - but Zidane's response was unequivocal. He walked toward Materazzi and delivered a violent headbutt to the Italian's chest, sending him crashing to the ground.
Referee Horacio Elizondo, having not witnessed the incident directly, consulted with the fourth official. Moments later, Elizondo produced a red card, and Zinedine Zidane, one of football's greatest players, walked off the pitch for the final time, passing the World Cup trophy without a glance.
Penalty Shootout
With the score remaining 1-1 after 120 minutes, the World Cup would be decided on penalties for only the second time in the tournament's history.
| Italy | France |
|---|---|
| Pirlo - SCORED | Wiltord - SCORED |
| Materazzi - SCORED | Trezeguet - MISSED (crossbar) |
| De Rossi - SCORED | Abidal - SCORED |
| Del Piero - SCORED | Sagnol - SCORED |
| Grosso - SCORED | - |
David Trezeguet's penalty struck the crossbar and bounced away - the only miss of the shootout. When Fabio Grosso stepped up for Italy's fifth penalty, he made no mistake, and Italy were world champions for the fourth time.
Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro lifted the trophy as Italian blue confetti filled the Berlin night sky. The Azzurri had completed their journey from the shadow of a match-fixing scandal at home to the pinnacle of world football.
The final was a fitting conclusion to a remarkable tournament, though the controversy surrounding Zidane's dismissal dominated post-match discussion for weeks and continues to be debated today.
For Italian sports coverage, visit La Gazzetta dello Sport.