Italy wins FIFA World Cup 2006 - This Post

Italy won the World Cup in a penalty shootout on Sunday, beating France 5-3 after a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes.

David Trezeguet hit the crossbar with France's second spot kick to give Italy its fourth title, and Fabio Grosso made the deciding kick. Andrea Pirlo, Marco Materazzi, Daniele De Rossi and Alessandro Del Piero also scored for the winner. Sylvain Wiltord, Eric Abidal and Willy Sagnol netted for France.

It was the first penalty shootout in a final since the 1994 World Cup. Brazil beat Italy 3-2 in that match.

Sunday's delicately balanced match went into extra time with Italy and France level at 1-1.

French skipper Zinedine Zidane was sent off in the second period of extra-time for head-butting.

Italy fought back from a goal down. French captain Zinedine Zidane put his team ahead with a penalty after seven minutes, the midfielder striking the ball against the bar and into the goal beyond Gianluigi Buffon after Florent Malouda was tripped by Marco Materazzi.

Italy equalised after 19 minutes when Materazzi atoned for his earlier misdemeanour by rising above Patrick Vieira to head powerfully past Fabien Barthez from an Andrea Pirlo corner.

Zidane's spot kick added to the two headed goals the French playmaker scored in the 3-0 win over Brazil in the 1998 final on home soil in Paris.

Geoff Hurst scored three goals in England's 4-2 win over West Germany in 1966 and is the only man to score a hat-trick in the final.

Courtesy: The Hindu