Italy's 2006 World Cup

Italy have always been considered a football heavyweight, winning four world cups but the 2006 World Cup will always be the most rewarding out of those victories, this is the story of how Italy won the 2006 World Cup.

In the run up to the 2006 World Cup Italy were traditional favourites at world cups winning three times in 1934,1938 and 1982 and finishing runners up twice in 1970 and 1994. But even though this was an extremely talented Italian squad containing the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo, Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta and many others, they weren’t expected to win. This was Italy was embroiled in the calciopoli scandal in which police uncovered a corruption ring involving referees, managers and top clubs including Ac Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio, Regina and Juventus.

Italy were drawn in group E alongside Ghana, the USA and the Czech Republic, in there first game they easily dispatched Ghana with Andrea Pirlo scoring a superb long-shot. The USA were a much better team in this showed as Italy could only settle for a draw and key player Daniele De Rossi was shown a red card and banned for four matches for Elbowing Brian McBride in the face. Italy fared better against the Czech Republic winning 2-0, and although centre back Alessandro Nesta sustained an injury that would rule him out for the rest of the tournament, Marco Materazzi was more than capable of playing in his position and even scored from a corner just after he came on. Italy easily won there group and were drawn with Australia for the round of 16, this was a controversial match as in the dying minutes of injury time right back Fabio Grosso was tackled by Lucas Neil in the penalty box, which resulted in a penalty for Italy. Many Australians were fuming after this decision as they felt Grosso dived, but Roma legend Francesco Totti converted the subsequent penalty sending Italy to a quarterfinal matchup with Ukraine they easily won 3-0 with star striker Luca Toni scoring a brace, this match was also remembered for a sterling performance from central defensive mystro Fabio Cannavaro. This game set the stage for the epic semi final game between Italy and hosts Germany.

Other than the final this was the most intense match of the 2006 World Cup Italy vs the hosts Germany who’s team exceeded many people expectations. This titanic game was tense throughout, Italy impressed with the speed and slickness of there counterattack’s spearheaded by pass master Andrea Pirlo one such counter lead to Alberto Gilardino to hit the post. Germany’s workman like team also impressed, with Bastian Schweinsteiger coming close on many occasions. As the game entered extra time there were more chances for both teams, Lukas Podolski’s shot forced an outstretched save from Gianlugi Buffon, and also missed a header from 10 yards out. Italy began to make there extra quality count though and Pirlo was pulling the strings, he set Vincenzo Iaquinta who in turn tied up substitute Alessandro Del Piero but the Juventus striker shot wide

As the clock inside Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion ticked towards 11:15pm in the July night, the watchful eyes of some 65,000 people are witnessing a frantic World Cup semi-final. The 0-0 draw between the hosts Germany and Italy had been a breathless match, featuring chances galore between two of the world’s best teams. For all the talent on the pitch, however, it appears, in the 28th minute of extra-time, that there will only one thing capable of concluding the contest.

Penalties are on the mind, although for the Italians’ sake, the heroics of Gianluigi Buffon are not needed. A corner from Alessandro Del Piero is partially cleared, only for the masterful eye of Andrea Pirlo to thread a no-look pass between Bastian Schweinsteiger and Christoph Metzelder. It fell to the feet of left-back Fabio Grosso, with the Palermo man hitting it first time. His left-footed strike curled around Michael Ballack and into Jens Lehmann’s far post, sending Italy to the World Cup final  

Now all there was in the way of Italy winning their fourth World Cup was France, a team built with veterans from there 1998 victory Zidane, Thuram, Viera, Barthez and Makélélé all had won the World Cup before. This French team was hungry to win and get vengeance for there woeful 2002 tournament. This game had the potential for one of the best World Cup finals and and this exactly what we got. 

Within the first ten minutes of the game starting, tension was already sky high, French Player Florent Malouda had been fouled in the penalty box by Italian central Defender Marco Materazzi, a penalty was undisputedly given, Zidane the poster boy of French football stepped up to take the spot kick, he calmly shot the ball onto the crossbar and into the net, France had scored. Not long after a corner was given to Italy and who else could take it but Andrea Pirlo, Pirlo gently crosses the ball and the man who gave away the Penalty Marco Materazzi scores. It was now 1-1 and Match was getting very close. Then in the 60th minute Italy had a free kick, Pirlo took it and Luca Toni elegantly headed it in the back of the net, but the linesman flag was down, it was offside. No team could break the deadlock and the game went to extra time. Then it was Frances turn to have a game winning chance in the 103rd minute, France left back Willy Sagnol delivered a a beautiful cross for Zidane to head that prompted a sensational save from Gianlugi Buffon. 

Then a few moments after that an event that no one could have seen coming, now one of the most infamous moments in World Cup history, happened Zinedine Zidane head butted Marco Materazzi in the chest, in the last game of Zidane’s glittering and highly successful career is now marred in controversy as he received a red card from referee Horacio Elizondo and walks of the pitch full of embarrassment and shame. France were now on the back foot and started to park the bus and play for penalty’s, France got there wish as Italy failed to score.

It was now penalties the ultimate deadlock that will always decide a winner. The first to take a penalty is Man of Match Andrea Pirlo who calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net, then it was Sylvain Wiltord chance to level things up for France he powerfully shoots the ball into the right corner and scores. Next up was Marco Materazzi the man who Zidane had head buttered the man who scored the equaliser, Materazzi stepped up took a long run up and smashed the ball in the top left corner. It was Juventus’s David  Trezeguet turn to score for France but he hits the crossbar, Italy now have the advantage as Daniele De Rossi converts his penalty, followed by Eric Abidal who also converts his penalty for France. Italy’s and Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero scores his spot kick with ease, Italy are now one kick away from winning the World Cup. France’s Willy Sagnol, who plays for Bayern Munich, has to score to keep France in the World Cup he calmly slots the ball in right corner

It was now 4-3 on penalties and little known Italian journeyman Fabio Grosso had the World Cup at his feet as he stepped up to take a penalty that could win Italy its fourth World Cup. Grosso who’s curling strike sent Italy into the Finals ahead of the hosts Germany, Grosso who wasn’t even expected to be in the squad let alone a crucial part of Italy’s rock solid defence which had only concede two goals in the tournament. Grosso looks directly at the ball stutters his run up and slots the ball past Fabien Barthez. Italy against all the odds, had won the 2006 World Cup.

Fabio Cannavaro lifting the world cup, image from getty images