There has never been a final act in soccer quite like Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt.
The France great had been coaxed out of international retirement by coach Raymond Domenech to help his country’s flagging campaign to make it to the 2006 tournament in Germany.
He did exactly that.
Few observers, though, gave the team a chance in the actual competition, especially after a labored group stage. But Les Bleus rediscovered the form that made it the world’s best at the turn of the millennium.
Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro lifting the World Cup trophy surrounded by his team mates.
After dispatching Spain in the round of 16, France faced Brazil, the team it overwhelmed in the 1998 final. Even so, Brazil was the favorite with its potent attack of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka.
However, France dominated and Thierry Henry’s goal following a free kick from Zidane saw France make it to the semifinals, where a penalty from “Zizou” was enough to beat Portugal.
In both matches, Zidane was like a conductor, dazzling with his flicks and vision. He was back to his best at the age of 34 and it looked like he would end his career lifting the World Cup.
But there was always an edge to Zidane, a chance he could self-combust.
Gianluca Zambrotta trying to catch up with Fabio Grosso who had just scored the 5th and final decisive penalty against France in the World Cup final in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.
The final against Italy started well enough for France, with Zidane putting his team ahead early with a chipped penalty kick that bounced down off the crossbar. But the sheer audacity of that spot kick was perhaps a sign that not everything was right with him.
After defender Marco Materazzi headed the Azzurri level in the 19th minute, the match failed to ignite and was seemingly heading for penalties. With minutes of extra time left, the two scorers were at the center of one of the most unforgettable episodes in World Cup history.
Television cameras missed the incident at first, but then suddenly showed Materazzi lying on the ground. Then, replays showed Zidane racing toward the defender following an exchange of words and felled him with his head — his last act as a professional player.
Italy went through to the Round of 16 conceding just one goal (an own goal) in the group phase against the United States. The US bowed out of the tournament after disappointing results against the Czech Republic and Ghana, 0–3 and 1–2, respectively, despite a 1–1 draw (finishing with 9 vs 10 men) against Italy. Tournament debutant Ghana joined Italy in the round of 16, following victories over the Czech Republic and the United States. Daniele De Rossi was suspended for 4 games following his sending-off against the United States.
Germany’s Miroslav Klose was the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.
In the round of 16 match Italy spent much of the game with only ten men on the field, following a controversial red card shown to centre back Marco Materazzi, but the Azzurri went through with an equally controversial late penalty scored by Francesco Totti.
After eliminating Ukraine 3-0 in the quarter finals, Italy played their best game in the semi-final against hosts Germany in Dortmund. With the game heading towards a penalty shoot out, Italy scored two goals through Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero, in the last two minutes of extra time, putting an end to Germany's undefeated record in Dortmund, and continuing their dominance over Germany.
In the final Zidane gave France an early lead from the penalty spot, but Materazzi levelled matters on 19 minutes. The match went to penalties with France's David Trezeguet, the man who scored the golden goal against Italy in Euro 2000, was the only player not to score his penalty; his spot kick hit the crossbar, landed on the goal line and went out.
Pirlo, Materazzi, De Rossi, Del Pieor and Grosso scored the Azzurri’s penalties.