The Fan

Zidane red card overshadows Italian triumph

The Editor — Mon, July 10th 2006

Italy 1 - France 1 (Italy win on penalties)

Zinedine Zidane’s career came to a staggering end as he saw red for his brutal head butt on Italian Materrazi.

Italy won their fourth World Cup, winning their first penalty shootout in four attempts.

An early Zidane penalty gave France the lead, but Italy who had the better of a tight first half, equalised with a Matterazzi header from a corner. Italy’s set pieces caused France problems through the first half, and an uncertain Bartex was relieved to see Toni’s header hit the crossbar from an identical corner to the goal.

France approached the second half better and dominated the game. Italy struggled to maintain any possession and gradually became more and more defensive, with full-backs Grosso and Zambrotta’s forward runs becoming increasingly rare.

Extra time continued in the same pattern and France looked the most likely to grab the winner until Zidane’s moment of madness. From then, despite both teams trying for a winner, penalties always looked the most likely result.

There was only one miss in the penalties - Trezeguet hitting the crossbar with France’s second penalty. Grosso stepped up for Italy’s fifth penalty, and by completing Italy’s ‘full house’ selaed victory.

Listed in: Competitions, World Cup, Countries, France, Italy

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