Italy wins World Cup

After 120 minutes of play, Italy defeated France in penalty kicks (5-3) to win their 4th World Cup title.

Zinedine Zidane gave France the early lead on a penalty kick in the 7th minute after Florent Malouda was brought down by Marco Materazzi. However, Materazzi made up for his mistake by scoring for Italy in the 19th minute via a header from an Andrea Pirlo corner.

The game took an interesting twist with Zinedine Zidane getting red carded with minutes to play in the overtime, inexplicably headbutting Materazzi in the chest in a play away from the ball. France was forced to play a man down and Zidane was not allowed to participate in the final shootout.

Fabio Grosso scored the winning shootout goal.

Date

Sun 07/09/06, 12:50 pm EST

ChristofMVP

1240 days ago

Score 0

No big deal for the French, they are use to defeat! :)

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Patrickburke1980All-American

1240 days ago

Score 3

What Zidane did to get ejected was absolutely disgusting. Instead of being remembered along the lines of Pele or Beckenbauer, the lasting image of him will be headbutting himself out of the 2006 World Cup.

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Twins15Varsity Captain

1240 days ago

Score 3

Yeah, it probably wouldn't have made any difference in the outcome, but what the heck as Zidane thinking?

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

1240 days ago

Score 0

Maybe it's my inexperience in viewing soccer, but I absolutely hate when a game comes down to a shootout. Because two teams couldn't end the soccer game they decide the winner with a completely separate game (completely unlike team soccer) where the first goalkeeper to guess the direction of the ball correctly saves the game for his team. I first decided this when Argentina lost their starting goalkeeper and their backup could hardly do anything but... fall forward at each kick...?!? Am I alone on this or is there a better way?

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EstebistecVarsity

1240 days ago

Score 1

And of course I was logged out before making that comment...

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ThecrookedcapAll-Star

1240 days ago

Score 0

Most soccer fans aren't either.

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Twins15Varsity Captain

1239 days ago

Score 0

Yeah it's much too reliant on luck than skill, and way too much of a crapshoot. I'm not really sure there's a better way though... if you just let them keep playing until someone scores though, every single player on the field will start cramping up at some point, and it's not better to end it that way.

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EstebistecVarsity

1239 days ago

Score -1

Well, they don't necessarily have to end it right then. What if they said, okay, we tied today so now we have to play a game 2 tomorrow. Then you could reasonably continue until there was a winner. Granted, that would throw T.V. schedules big time.

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Twins15Varsity Captain

1239 days ago

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Yeah that would probably be a nightmare as far as TV/tickets/accomodations/etc. It'd be exciting to see as a viewer, but I suspect terrible as far as planning goes.

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ThecrookedcapAll-Star

1239 days ago

Score 1

See, replays used to be commonplace and some competitions like the FA Cup still do it (but not the Final). For the final it would be alright, but in the earlier knockout round it would be hell trying to reschedule everything.

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EstebistecVarsity

1239 days ago

Score -1

Well, they aren't likely to change it tomorrow anyway for me anyway... but suffice it to say that when it's shootout time there is no longer a soccer game taking place.

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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

1239 days ago

Score 0

At least a penalty shoot-out is exciting for the fans. A shoot-out makes the most boring 0-0 draws memorable. I agree, it is not a fair way to decide it, but it is certainly exciting.

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I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

1239 days ago

Score -1

I think this should be a victory for the French. They played not only a whole game but a whole tournament without surrendering. That has to count for something.

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AndersedJV Squad

1239 days ago

Score 0

Think about the implications of this name: Fabio Grosso. Also, the guy scored incredibly important game-sealing goals in their last three games.

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Anonymous Fanatic #2

1239 days ago

Score -1

Zinedine Zi-DUMB.

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Sayhey-rodSoccer Kid

1239 days ago

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I'm by no means defending Zidane as he reacted stupidly, but I would like to know what exactly Materazzi said.

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Sayhey-rodSoccer Kid

1239 days ago

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And ironic that Zidane won the golden ball, voted by journalists as best player at the tourney.

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Anonymous Fanatic #3

1217 days ago

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I guess wanted to be the "Badass" of soccer by ending his career with a redcard. It's one of those questiosn that will neve rbe answered "why did he do it?..."

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