World Cup stories: Zidane loses his head and Italy take the prize

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Italy win fourth World Cup crown

How it happened in 2006

 

 

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Back to Europe 

After moving the tournament to the Far East in 2002, the World Cup returned to Europe in 2006, with Germany chosen as the host ahead of rival bids from England, Brazil and Morocco. 

Thirty teams competed in the finals, with debuts for Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, and Serbia and Montenegro, plus Ukraine and the Czech Republic competing for the first time as independent nations. 

England were the only home nation involved and headed to the tournament under Sven-Goran Eriksson and a team dubbed the country's 'Golden Generation', spearheaded by skipper David Beckham and striking sensation Wayne Rooney. 

Brazil went in as reigning champions, but it was Germany, on home soil, who were the much-fancied favourites. 

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The moments that mattered 

England limped through the group stages with narrow wins over Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago, although the draw with Sweden was lit up by Joe Cole's wonderstrike. After seeing off Ecuador, they faced Portugal in a quarter-final rematch from Euro 2004. And, yet again, it was penalty heartbreak.

Not before the Three Lions were reduced to ten men, however. Wayne Rooney saw red for a needless clash with Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, which saw the Portuguese famously wink to the bench after playing his part perfectly in seeing off England's golden boy. Rooney was then missing for the shootout, where Sven's men covered only one of their spot kicks and were dumped out. 

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Germany stormed through the group stage to eventually reach the semi-finals, but were beaten by Italy in the dying moments of extra-time, while France started off slowly but grew into the tournament with Zinedine Zidane orchestrating in his final tournament before retiring. 

The tournament saw the debut of Lionel Messi, who scored in Argentina's 6-0 thrashing of Serbia and Montenegro, a game that included the World Cup's greatest team goal, as the South Americans completed 24 passes before Esteban Cambiasso found the net. 

The stars of the finals 

The Golden Boot went to Miroslav Klose, who continued his knack for scoring on the World Cup stage with five goals in his home country, while teammate Lukas Podolski was named the tournament's best young player. 

Zinedine Zidane also starred as he called time on his football career by leading France to the final, but it all then went up in flames of rage in the final. 

For Italy, there were starring roles for Andres Pirlo, Luca Toni and Alessandro Del Piero, but it was Fabio Canavarro who got most of the flowers. The centre-back's performances were so good it saw him win that year's Ballon d'Or in what was a real rarity for a defender. 

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The final

It came down to Italy and Germany in Munich in a game that will always only be remembered for the moment Zizzou saw red in his final act as a professional footballer. 

Zidane opened the scoring from the spot before Materazzi equalised, the game went into extra time, and the French captain had his moment of madness. 

With the clock ticking towards penalty kicks, Zidane took umbrage at comments made by Materazzi and proceeded to turn around and headbutt the Italian defender in full view of the watching world. 
 

The legendary midfielder was promptly sent off in his final game as a pro, leaving France without their talisman as the match went to a penalty shootout.

In the end, it was Italy who triumphed, with David Trezeguet's missed penalty helping them lift their fourth World Cup crown. 

The legacy 

Germany's highly organised structure and effective effort as hosts have made it a benchmark for countries to follow, but on the pitch, 2006 saw the changing of the guard at football's top international table. 

Zidane's dramatic send-off was the headline, but it was also a final outing for Luis Figo and Ronaldo, too. And in their place, the game's new leading lights, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, took to the World Cup for the first time and would ultimately define the next generation. 

For Italy, it was a fourth World Cup win, but it's been downhill from there. Since winning in 2006, they've won only one World Cup game and failed to qualify for the last two tournaments. 

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