2006 FIFA World Cup final

World Cup final match, held in Germany July 2026 March 2021 2006 FIFA World Cup final Football-stadium-berlin.jpg A scene inside the Olympiastadion during the first half of the match. 2006 FIFA World Cup Italy ITA 2003 30px 1 France FRA 1974 30px 1 After extra timeItaly won 5–3 on penalties 9 July 2006 Olympiastadion Berlin Andrea Pirlo (Italy) Horacio Elizondo (Argentina)https://www.worldfootball.net/match-report/ma52/lineup/ World Cup 2006 Germany » Final » Italy – France 5:3 Worldfootball.net 9 July 2006 9 July 2006 69,000 Clear27 °C °F42% humidityhttp://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/EDDB/2006/7/9/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA Weather History for EDDB Weather Underground The Weather Company 9 July 2006 11 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20150607075606/http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/EDDB/2006/7/9/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA 7 June 2015 2002 2010 The final match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the 18th edition of FIFA's competition for national football teams, was played at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany, on 9 July 2006, and was contested between Italy and France. The event comprised hosts Germany and 31 other teams who emerged from the qualification phase, organised by the six FIFA confederations. The 32 teams competed in a group stage, from which 16 teams qualified for the knockout stage. En route to the final, Italy had to deal with the aftermath of the Calciopoli and public boycotts. Despite this, Italy finished first in Group E, with two wins and a draw, after which they defeated Australia in the round of 16, Ukraine in the quarter-final, and Germany 2–0 in the semi-final. Suffering from underperformance, France finished runner-up of Group G with one win and two draws, before defeating Spain in the round of 16, Brazil in the quarter-final, and Portugal 1–0 in the semi-final. The final was witnessed by 69,000 spectators in the stadium, with the referee for the match being Horacio Elizondo from Argentina. Italy won the World Cup after beating France 5–3 in a penalty shoot-out following a 1–1 draw at the conclusion of extra time. The match was focused mostly on France's Zinedine Zidane and Italy's Marco Materazzi: this was the last match of Zidane's career, they each scored their team's only goal of the game, and they were also involved in an incident in extra time that led to Zidane being sent off for headbutting Materazzi in the chest. The Zidane–Materazzi incident was the subject of much analysis following the match. Italy's Andrea Pirlo was named the man of the match, and Zidane was awarded the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. The final served as a key match in the France–Italy football rivalry, coming after Italy were defeated by France in the UEFA Euro 2000 final. Italy's victory was their first world title in 24 years, and their fourth overall, putting them one ahead of Germany and only one behind Brazil. For the first time since November 1993, Italy topped the FIFA World Rankings in February 2007 as a result of the win. With eight football players from Juventus in the final, it equalled the record of Sparta Prague in 1934. Both sides would fail to get past the group stage in 2010, becoming the first set of finalists to do so, while Italy became the third World Cup champions to be eliminated from the group phase after Brazil in 1966 and France in 2002. As of 2026, this is the last knockout stage match played by Italy in the tournament, having gone out in the groups in 2014 before failing to qualify since. Background Venue thumb|An example of the Adidas +Teamgeist Berlin ball used in the match The Olympiastadion in Berlin was used as the venue for the final,9 July 2006 L'Italia è Campione del mondo, Francia ko dopo i calci di rigore https://www.repubblica.it/2006/06/speciale/altri/2006mondialipartite/finale-mondiale/finale-mondiale.html La Repubblica it 30 June 2026De Stefano Gaetano 9 July 2006 Ci incoronano i rigori https://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2006/Primo_Piano/2006/07_Luglio/09/ITALIA-FRANCIA.shtml La Gazzetta dello Sport it 30 June 2026 as well as five other matches over the tournament.9 July 2006 https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/matches/match/97410064/ Italy – France FIFA 9 August 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20200412060648/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/matches/match/97410064/ 12 April 2020 dead It was also used for three matches at the 1974 World Cup.2019 https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany1974/groups/ 1974 FIFA World Cup FIFA 11 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20190707004350/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany1974/groups/ 7 July 2019 dead The Olympiastadion was built for the 1936 Summer Olympics in the western part of the city.http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/stadium-guide/stadium-guide-olympiastadion-berlin-362518 Stadium Guide: Olympiastadion Berlin WorldSoccer 5 June 2015 9 August 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160827105131/http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/stadium-guide/stadium-guide-olympiastadion-berlin-362518 27 August 2016 live Since 1985, the stadium has hosted the finals of both the DFB-Pokal and its female equivalent. The Olympiastadion hosts the Internationales Stadionfest, which was an IAAF Golden League event from 1998 to 2009. The stadium hosted the 2009 World Championships in Athletics.4 December 2004 http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=512/newsId=27957.html dead Berlin to host 2009 World Championships https://web.archive.org/web/20121022192316/http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=512/newsId=27957.html 22 October 2012 IAAF 9 August 2016 Aside from its use as an Olympic stadium, the Olympiastadion has a strong footballing tradition, having been the home of Hertha BSC since 1963.2014 http://www.herthabsc.de/de/teams/damals-wars-nuernberg/page/4337--45--.html#.V6ovHFQrK00 Damals war's: Bundesliga-Auftakt gegen den 'Club' Hertha BSC 9 August 2016 de https://web.archive.org/web/20160821093238/http://www.herthabsc.de/de/teams/damals-wars-nuernberg/page/4337--45--.html#.V6ovHFQrK00 21 August 2016 live Italy–France rivalry France–Italy football rivalry Italy's first official match as a national team was against France on 15 May 1910,2008 http://www.magliarossonera.it/190910_album.html Album della stagione Magliarossonera it 15 June 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20081230141227/http://www.magliarossonera.it/190910_album.html 30 December 2008 live and the two countries developed a football rivalry.http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2006/luglio/07/Italia_Francia_antiche_ossessioni_rivalita_co_9_060707051.shtml https://archive.today/20150224190737/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2006/luglio/07/Italia_Francia_antiche_ossessioni_rivalita_co_9_060707051.shtml dead 24 February 2015 Italia-Francia Le antiche ossessioni le rivalità profonde e più amore che odio Corriere della Sera 7 July 2006 ithttp://www.today.it/sport/italia-francia-precedenti.html Italia e Francia di nuovo contro dopo 4 anni: storia di una grande rivalità 12 November 2012 Today.it it 19 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20190401152305/http://www.today.it/sport/italia-francia-precedenti.html 1 April 2019 live They have faced each other in several world-stage tournaments, including previous World Cups in 1938 (3–1 Italy),2015 https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=429/match=1164/index.html#nosticky Match Report France – Italy FIFA 19 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200103163710/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round%3D429/match%3D1164/index.html#nosticky 3 January 2020 dead 1978 (2–1 Italy),2015 https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=278/match=2347/index.html Match Report Italy – France FIFA 19 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20180626001606/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=278/match=2347/index.html 26 June 2018 dead 1986 (2–0 France),2016 https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=309/match=568/index.html Match Report Italy – France FIFA 19 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20190401164226/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=309/match=568/index.html 1 April 2019 dead and 1998 (4–3 in penalty shoot-out to France).2015 https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=1025/match=8781/index.html Match Report Italy – France FIFA 19 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20191215054201/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=1025/match=8781/index.html 15 December 2019 dead Most recently, they had contested the UEFA Euro 2000 final, which ended in a 2–1 victory for France after a golden goal in extra time by David Trezeguet.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/816194.stm France 2 Italy 1 2 July 2000 BBC Sport 19 June 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20190726060204/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/816194.stm 26 July 2019 livehttps://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/jul/02/euro2000.sport6 France 2-1 Italy 2 July 2000 The Guardian 28 February 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304234936/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/jul/02/euro2000.sport6 4 March 2016 live2012 http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2000/overview/index.html Trezeguet strikes gold for France UEFA.com 28 February 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20151228113608/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2000/overview/index.html 28 December 2015 dead The match was the sixth FIFA World Cup final for Italy and the second for France.2007 https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mcwc/ip-301_09a_wc-finals_alltime_8864.pdf FIFA World Cup Finals since 1930 3 February 2009 FIFA https://web.archive.org/web/20110514092024/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mcwc/ip-301_09a_wc-finals_alltime_8864.pdf 14 May 2011 dead Italy had won three of their previous finals (1934, 1938, 1982), losing two (1970, 1994), while France had won their only previous final (1998). It was the first final since 1978 in which neither Germany nor Brazil competed and only the second since 1938; it was also the first all-European final since Italy won the World Cup in 1982 and the second final to be decided by a penalty shoot-out (1994 was the first, with Italy losing to Brazil on that occasion). It was also the first final since 1938 in which neither Germany, Brazil nor Argentina competed. Zidane's announced retirement and Serie A scandal In April 2006, France's Zinedine Zidane, who at the time played for Spanish league side Real Madrid and also previously served for the Italian league side Juventus, announced his retirement from football, saying his playing career would end after the World Cup.Baskett Simon Zidane to retire after one last tilt at World Cup success https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/apr/26/newsstory.sport 26 April 2006 The Guardian 19 May 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170728123409/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/apr/26/newsstory.sport 28 July 2017 live16 December 2009 Pictures of the Decade Part 9 https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/pictures-of-the-decade-part-idJPRTXR29D/ Reuters 2 July 2026 Considered "one of the greatest footballers ever" and at the time still the "world's most expensive player", his honours list included a Ballon d'Or, three FIFA World Player of the Year awards, and FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and Serie A winners' medals.Bandini Nicky Stafford Mikey 11 December 2009 The Joy of Six: sporting villains of the decade https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/dec/11/the-joy-of-six-sporting-villains-decade The Guardian 2 July 202622 December 2009 Head-butt rap helps Zidane rest easy https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-12-22/head-butt-rap-helps-zidane-rest-easy/1187798 ABC News 2 July 2026 In May 2006, Italy's Serie A league was hit by Calciopoli,Ingram Sam 20 December 2021 https://zicoball.com/calciopoli-when-referee-designators-were-the-most-desired-pawns/ dead Calciopoli Scandal: Referee Designators As Desired Pawns ZicoBall https://web.archive.org/web/20221210162402/https://zicoball.com/calciopoli-when-referee-designators-were-the-most-desired-pawns/ 10 December 2022 25 June 2026When the world watched Italy: FIFA World Cup 2006 https://www.fifa.com/en/articles/when-the-world-watched-italy-fifa-world-cup-2006 FIFA 15 November 2022 26 June 2026Horncastle James 10 December 2024 Juventus, Man City and the far-reaching impact of a scandal that resulted in relegation https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5976120/2024/12/10/juventus-calciopoli-man-city-premier-league-charges/ https://web.archive.org/web/20250815213714/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5976120/2024/12/10/juventus-calciopoli-man-city-premier-league-charges/ 15 August 2025 25 June 2026 The Athletic a controversial scandal mainly surrounding Juventus (judged in rushed proceedings lasting two months and 12 days to make way for the World Cup and the 2006–2007 football season),Calabrese Giuseppe 15 July 2006 http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2006/07/15/un-incubo-lungo-tre-mesi-per-dimostrare.html Un incubo lungo tre mesi per dimostrare l'innocenza La Repubblica it 19 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200327162703/https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2006/07/15/un-incubo-lungo-tre-mesi-per-dimostrare.html 27 March 2020 liveCambiaghi Emilio Dent Arthur https://download.ju29ro.com/il_processo_illecito.pdf Il processo illecito Stampa Indipendente July 2007 1st it 25 June 2026 Ju29ro.com, 13 March 2008Bucchioni Enzo D'Ascoli Mario https://books.google.com/books?id=vsOoIAAACAAJ Un calcio nel cuore TEA October 2007 978-88-502-1411-2 1st Milan it 25 June 2026 Google BooksThe sports proceedings were controversial, especially in regards to Juventus but also with the ad personam decision by the then FIGC extrordinary commissioner and former member of the Inter Milan board Guido Rossi and his appointed experts to assign the scudetto to third-placed Inter Milan. The handling and decisions by sports justice attracted significant criticism, including from the former Constitutional Court of Italy judge and president Antonio Baldassarre, Totonero head of the investigation office and former FIGC judge Corrado De Biase, former FIGC judge Giuseppe Benedetto who resigned in protest, journalists like Enzo Biagi (widely considered a giant of Italian journalism), the future Linkiesta editor-in-chief Christian Rocca, and prominent investigative journalist Oliviero Beha (who had coined the term Moggiopoli at the outbreak of the scandal and later became a prominent critic of how it was handled),Moggi, De Santis, le intercettazioni: vent'anni dopo, Mirandola riscopre Calciopoli https://www.sulpanaro.net/2026/05/moggi-de-santis-le-intercettazioni-ventanni-dopo-mirandola-riscopre-calciopoli/ SulPanaro.net 17 May 2026 28 June 2026 it politicians like the former prime minister and president Francesco Cossiga, lawyers like the well known Inter Milan supporter and future Milan mayor Giuliano Pisapia, and former Milan and Italy manager Arrigo Sacchi,2009 Commenti autorevoli https://www.giulemanidallajuve.com/newsite/commenti.asp 25 June 2026 Giù le mani dalla Juve it and trial by media and kangaroo court accusations, with comparisons to the Inquisition (especially the Spanish Inquisition) and totalitarian states. nb a team to which five of the national squad players belonged,Mughini Giampiero 1 February 2008 II. Il dolente popolo juventino https://books.google.com/books?id=2a1BJgAACAAJ Juve. Il sogno che continua Milan Mondadori 978-88-04-57594-8 1st it 39–84 25 June 2026 Google Books9 July 2014 9 luglio 2006, ItalJuve Mondiale https://www.juventus.com/it/news/articoli/9-luglio-2006-italjuve-mondiale 25 June 2026 Juventus.com it8 June 2018 http://www.juventus.com/en/news/news/2018/juventus-world-cup-winners.php Juventus World Cup winners Juventus.com 19 April 2020 14 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210714202325/https://www.juventus.com/en/news/articles/juventus-world-cup-winners live before in later years it emerged that virtually all Serie A clubs were involved but time-barred,Garganese Carlo 17 June 2011 http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2011/06/17/2535702/revealed-the-evidence-that-shows-luciano-moggi-is-the-victim Revealed: The Calciopoli evidence that shows Luciano Moggi is the victim of a witch-hunt Goal.com 25 June 2026 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110618141816/https://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2011/06/17/2535702/revealed-the-evidence-that-shows-luciano-moggi-is-the-victim 18 June 2011Prioreschi Maurilio October 2012 La cronologia di Calciopoli 30 sul campo. Tutta l'altra verità di Calciopoli Milan Baldini&Castoldi 9–16 978-88-66-20809-9 1st it causing a controversy between Juventus, Inter Milan, and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) that lasted for the next two decades over unequal treatment.Zampini Massimo 2006. Il calcio rovesciato. Calciopoli in dieci storie, dieci citazioni e un articolo https://books.google.com/books?id=97DlEAAAQBAJ Juventus. Un'ossessione italiana 12 December 2023 Baldini+Castoldi 979-12-5494-086-0 Milan it 1st 101–148 25 June 2026 Google BooksDella Valle Fabiana November 2024 Dalla Champions alla B https://books.google.com/books?id=SHcH0QEACAAJ La storia della Juventus. Il racconto bianconero Santarcangelo di Romagna DIARKOS 978-88-3616-389-2 it 185–214 25 June 2026 Google BooksGigantino Michele 9 November 2025 La Signora del calcio italiano. Storia della Juventus Torrazza Piemonte 979-8273492592 it 394–419 In July 2006, amnesty calls by various individuals, including politicians across the political spectrum in a polarised climate, as had been done in the early 1980s prior to Italy winning its third World Cup,4 July 2006 Calciopoli – Berlusconi: altro che Milan, è un attacco politico https://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/news/notizie-nascoste/51120/calciopoli-berlusconi-altro-che-milan-e-un-attacco-politico.html 27 June 2026 La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno it11 July 2006 Amnistia, la politica si spacca https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/sport/articoli/318281/amnistia-la-politica-si-spacca.shtml 27 June 2026 TGcom24 it were ultimately rejected in a public and media climate of "guilty until proven innocent",Longhi Lorenzo Molinari Alberto December 2023 I dieci giorni che sconvolsero il calcio. Il caso calciopoli nella rappresentazione della stampa https://www.bibliomanie.it/?p=10949 Bibliomanie. Letterature, Storiografie, Semiotiche it 56 4 10.48276/issn.2280-8833.10949 2280-8833 27 June 2026 and many were openly cheering against Italy.Hafez Shamoon 5 October 2019 Calciopoli Scandal That Rocked Italy https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49910626 BBC Sport 18 April 2021 2 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220902143253/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49910626 liveCaprotti Alberto 9 July 2022 Quando l'Italia infangata vinceva i Mondiali: 2006, il paradosso della redenzione https://www.avvenire.it/agora/sport/berlino-2006-fango-e-oro-il-paradosso-della-redenzione_109497 Avvenire it 30 June 2026 Moreover, part of the media and several individuals, including the then minister Giovanna Melandri, had called for Italy manager and Juventus players to be excluded from the World Cup. Lippi and all Juventus players were subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing.The Calciopoli criminal trials in Rome (GEA World) and Naples (club directors) were largely based on circumstantial evidence and especially the trials in Naples proved controversial,Notaro Carmelo 26 April 2016 La vicenda Calciopoli fra incertezze e contraddizioni La Legislazione Penale https://www.lalegislazionepenale.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/approfondiment_Notaro_2016.pdf it 30 June 2026 and respectively concluded with acquittals and the statute of limitations for all defendants in relations to charges of criminal conspiracy. The first-instance trial in Naples had concluded that there had been no match fixing in favour of Juventus (in line with the sports proceedings) and thus the league standings had not been altered.Beha Oliviero 7 February 2012 http://notizie.tiscali.it/opinioni/Beha/2535/articoli/Il-caso-Moggi-e-le-colpe-della-stampa-non-fa-inchieste-di-pende-dai-verbali-non-sa-leggere-le-sentenze-e-non-avvicina-fatti-e-notizie-per-approfondire-l-analisi-Vi-basta.html dead Il 'caso Moggi' e le colpe della stampa: non fa inchieste, (di)pende dai verbali, non sa leggere le sentenze Tiscali it https://web.archive.org/web/20120312224520/http://notizie.tiscali.it/opinioni/Beha/2535/articoli/Il-caso-Moggi-e-le-colpe-della-stampa-non-fa-inchieste-di-pende-dai-verbali-non-sa-leggere-le-sentenze-e-non-avvicina-fatti-e-notizie-per-approfondire-l-analisi-Vi-basta.html 12 March 2012 25 June 2026Rossini Claudio 5 March 2014 https://it.blastingnews.com/opinioni/2014/03/calciopoli-e-la-verita-di-comodo-0070692.html Calciopoli e la verità di comodo Blasting News it 25 June 2026Vaciago Guido 28 July 2015 https://tuttosport.com/news/calcio/serie-a/juventus/calciopoli/2015/07/28-2774593/cassazione_sistema_inquinato_ma_non_spiega_i_misteri_di_calciopoli Cassazione: 'Sistema inquinato'. Ma non spiega i misteri di Calciopoli Tuttosport it 25 June 2026 This latter point contradicted the decision of sports justice, leading to calls for a revision of the decision by sports justice.Vaciago Guido 22 January 2015 Calciopoli, oggi Cassazione ma il 2006 è già smontato http://www.tuttosport.com/calcio/serie_a/juventus/2015/01/22-318921/Calciopoli,+oggi+Cassazione+ma+il+2006+%C3%A8+gi%C3%A0+smontato https://web.archive.org/web/20150124231933/http://www.tuttosport.com/calcio/serie_a/juventus/2015/01/22-318921/Calciopoli,+oggi+Cassazione+ma+il+2006+%C3%A8+gi%C3%A0+smontato 24 January 2015 25 June 2026 Tuttosport it live According to the sports proceedings, that Juventus had altered the league standings, even without fixing a single match (a logic strongly criticised), with no direct Article 6 violation warranting relegation, significantly aggravated the club's position,Arpino Felix 29 May 2018 Calciopoli: l'illecito sportivo della Juventus https://ilcalcioeugualepertutti.wordpress.com/2018/05/29/calciopoli-lillecito-sportivo-della-juventus/ 27 June 2026 Il calcio è uguale per tutti it and thus it caused the controversial relegation of Juventus to Serie B for the first time in its history and the revocation of the two scudetti won by the club on the pitch, including one that was never an object of investigation and that was assigned to third-placed Inter Milan, which was subsequently heavily implicated in the scandal. This and other key arguments that were instrumental in the 2006 decision were ultimately rebuked by the criminal trials. This specific part of the reasonings (no match fixing and league standings not altered) was definitely confirmed by Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation in 2015 and 2025.Santoro Luca 29 March 2025 Calciopoli, la Cassazione dà ragione alla Juventus: niente risarcimento al Bologna. Sui social nuovi attacchi all'Inter https://sport.virgilio.it/calciopoli-la-cassazione-da-ragione-alla-juventus-niente-risarcimento-al-bologna-sui-social-nuovi-attacchi-all-inter-903200 25 June 2026 Virgilio Sport it29 March 2025 La Cassazione mette fine a Calciopoli: 'Nessun risultato alterato', ma il calcio italiano riflette ancora https://www.ciociariaoggi.it/news/sport-nazionale/307022/la-cassazione-mette-fine-a-calciopoli-nessun-risultato-alterato-ma-il-calcio-italiano-riflette-ancora.html 25 June 2026 Ciociara Oggi it nb That so many players in the final were from Juventus was cited by club supporters and commentators, including some critics of the club and other figures, such as the then FIGC president Franco Carraro,Capuano Giovanni 17 March 2015 https://www.panorama.it/sport/carraro-campionato-1998-falsato-juventus-iuliano-ronaldo-rigore-moggi live La memoria ritardata di Carraro: 'Campionato '98 falsato'. Quando era nº1 di Lega... Panorama it https://web.archive.org/web/20221208235604/https://www.panorama.it/sport/carraro-campionato-1998-falsato-juventus-iuliano-ronaldo-rigore-moggi 8 December 2022 25 June 202612 December 2020 https://www.sportevai.it/calcio/carraro-calciopoli-colpa-mia-ma-juve-avrebbe-vinto-uguale.html live Carraro: Calciopoli colpa mia ma Juve avrebbe vinto uguale Sport e Vai it https://web.archive.org/web/20221208235613/https://www.sportevai.it/calcio/carraro-calciopoli-colpa-mia-ma-juve-avrebbe-vinto-uguale.html 8 December 2022 25 June 2026https://sport.virgilio.it/moggi-torna-su-calciopoli-e-carraro-forse-si-e-redento-654133 Moggi torna su Calciopoli e Carraro: Forse si è redento Virgilio Sport it 17 September 2020 25 June 2026 the then Juventus manager Fabio Capello, and the then Juventus player Zlatan Ibrahimović, to argue that Juventus was the strongest team and had legitimately won on the pitch back-to-back the 2004–2005 Serie A and the 2005–2006 Serie A revoked league titles.Marcello Lippi had been a successful manager at Juventus from 1994 to 1999 and from 2001 to 2004,Ranieri Claudio 9 July 2006 Lippi makes right calls and wins respect https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jul/09/worldcup2006.sport The Guardian 26 June 2026 when he took over the role as manager of Italy. Among Juventus players in the final were Gianluigi Buffon, Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Cannavaro, and Mauro Camoranesi as starters for Italy, with club captain and legend Alessandro Del Piero as substitute and starter Simone Perrotta as a former player, and Lilian Thuram and Patrick Viera as starters for France, with David Trezequet as substitute. Moreover, France starters Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry had both been at Juventus in the late 1990s and Italy players, such as Fabio Grosso, Andrea Pirlo, Luca Toni (starters), and Vincenzo Iaquinta (substitute) would all move to Juventus in subsequent years, while other key Juventus players in the 2006 World Cup were the 2003 Ballon d'Or winner Pavel Nedvěd for Czech Republic and Zlatan Ibrahimović for Sweden. Among Italy technical staff, an often cited figure from Juventus was the masseur Aldo Esposito, further underling the contributions of Juventus, which as of the 2022 World Cup was the club with the largest number of players to have won the FIFA World Club, extending its lead.18 December 2022 Le squadre con più campioni del mondo: Juventus sempre più prima! https://www.juventus.com/it/news/articoli/le-squadre-con-piu-campioni-del-mondo-juventus 25 June 2026 Juventus.com it When including the manager, the technical staff, and all the players acquired by the then Juventus management (Luciano Moggi as general manager, Antonio Giraudo as CEO, and former Juventus captain and club legend Roberto Bettega as vice-chairman), which brought the club to success and dominance since 1994 and reached both its apotheosis and its fall in 2006, the final had at least 17 individuals linked to Juventus.19 September 2025 Calciopoli o Farsopoli? Una ricostruzione https://home.ju29ro.com/articoli/farsopoli/336-calciopoli-o-farsopoli-una-ricostruzione 25 June 2026 Ju29ro.com it nb While some individuals like the then FIGC extraordinary commissioner Guido Rossi publicly supported Lippi, many noted the hypocrisy of those who celebrated the win of Italy when they had cheered against the national squad or had called for Juventus figures to be excluded (including Lippi, who ultimately did not renew his managerial contract as a result of this), explicitily citing the case of Melandri. Road to the final ItalyRoundFranceOpponentsResultsGroup stageOpponentsResultsGHA2–0Match 1SUI0–0USA1–1Match 2KOR 19971–1CZE2–0Match 3TOG2–0Group E winners TeamPld PlayedW WonD DrawnL LostGF Goals forGA Goals againstGD Goal differencePts PointsITA 2003321051+47GHA320143+16CZE310234−13USA301226−41Final standingsGroup G runners-up TeamPld PlayedW WonD DrawnL LostGF Goals forGA Goals againstGD Goal differencePts PointsSUI321040+47FRA 1974312031+25KOR 1997311134−14TOG300316−50OpponentsResultsKnockout stageOpponentsResultsAUS1–0Round of 16ESP3–1UKR3–0Quarter-finalsBRA1–0GER2–0 Semi-finalsPOR1–0 Squads analysis thumb|left|Italian players Gianluigi Buffon, Marco Materazzi, and Simone Perrotta celebrate Italy's qualification for the round of 16 at the end of the group stage match against the Czech Republic. Italy and France met again six years after the Euro 2000 final and eight years after their last meeting in a World Cup tournament, the quarter-finals of the 1998 World Cup, both of which had been won by France. Once the final tournament began, Italy managed to isolate themselves from the aforementioned scandal and reached the knockout stage without major difficulties, following a group stage campaign in Group E that saw them secure two wins and a draw, respectively against Ghana (2–0), the United States (1–1), and the Czech Republic (2–0). Nonetheless, these initial matches were not without issues for Lippi's men: Daniele De Rossi received a four-match ban for elbowing American player Brian McBride,De Stefano Gaetano 17 June 2006 Italia, pari pieno di rimpianti http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2006/Primo_Piano/2006/06_Giugno/17/Italia-Usa.shtml La Gazzetta dello Sport it 30 June 2026 while Alessandro Nesta ended his World Cup tournament early due to a serious injury sustained during the match against the Czechs.Apicella Nicola 22 June 2006 Rep. Ceca-Italia 0-2 (Conclusa) http://www.repubblica.it/speciale/2006/mondiali/dati/dirette/1596550.html La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 In the round of 16, the Azzurri struggled more than expected to defeat Australia (1–0), prevailing only thanks to a penalty converted by Francesco Totti in stoppage time,De Stefano Gaetano 26 June 2006 Azzurri da batticuore: 1-0 al 95' http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2006/Primo_Piano/2006/06_Giugno/26/ita-aus.shtml La Gazzetta dello Sport it 30 June 2026 while the comfortable quarter-final victory over Andriy Shevchenko's Ukraine (3–0) went according to predictions.De Stefano Gaetano 30 June 2006 E adesso la Germania http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2006/Primo_Piano/2006/06_Giugno/30/italiaucraina.shtml La Gazzetta dello Sport it 30 June 2026 In the semi-final, the hosts and three-time world champions Germany succumbed to the Azzurri (0–2) following a late one-two punch by Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero at the very end of extra time.De Stefano Gaetano 4 July 2006 Italia gran finale http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2006/Primo_Piano/2006/07_Luglio/04/GERMANIA-ITALIA.shtml La Gazzetta dello Sport it 30 June 2026 A defining characteristic of the Italian squad was the continuous rotation of starting players. With the exception of the two backup goalkeepers, Angelo Peruzzi and Marco Amelia, every other selected player was fielded at least once. Throughout the tournament, the attacking line-up alternated between Del Piero, Alberto Gilardino, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Filippo Inzaghi, Luca Toni, and Totti, supported by a solid midfield and above all a nearly impenetrable defence (conceding only one goal, which was an own goal), with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon remaining unbeaten for 453 minutes. After the semi-final with Germany, Gianni Mura, one of Italy's leading sports journalists, celebrated the Azzurri by associating each player with a colour and a wine. He compared Materazzi to Nero d'Avola with these words: "Here too, the assonance has played a part. It is a wine of resolute character that has boosted the reputation of bottled Sicilian wine. If you do not watch your step, it will floor you. Just like Materazzi, precisely."Zavagli Massimo 22 March 2020 Calcio e vino, gli amori di Gianni Mura https://www.oscarwine.it/calcio-e-vino-gli-amori-di-gianni-mura/ Oscarwine it 30 June 2026 thumb|Zinedine Zidane's penalty against Portugal, which sealed France's qualification for the final in Berlin. The Bleus secured second place in Group G with some difficulty, recording two draws and a victory against Switzerland (0–0), South Korea (1–1), and Togo (2–0). Even during these first three matches, France displayed physical and technical limitations, and Domenech was not immune to criticism: among other things, the manager made no secret of aligning the team partly based on astrological signs,Perrone Roberto 18 June 2006 Domenech Oroscopo e relazioni pericolose. La Francia condanna il suo c.t. http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2006/giugno/18/Domenech_Oroscopo_relazioni_pericolose_Francia_co_9_060618148.shtml Corriere della Sera it 45 https://web.archive.org/web/20151101140406/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2006/giugno/18/Domenech_Oroscopo_relazioni_pericolose_Francia_co_9_060618148.shtml 1 November 2015 dead and regularly left David Trezeguet—generally considered one of the finest forwards of his generation—on the bench for both tactical reasons, favouring a system with Thierry Henry as a lone striker, and specifically for reasons related to astrology.13 June 2006 La Francia stecca la prima. 'Bleus' bloccati dalla Svizzera http://www.repubblica.it/2006/06/speciale/altri/2006mondialipartite/francia-svizzera/francia-svizzera.html La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 With several players still remaining from the 1998 World Cup victory, the squad was accused of being old and worn out—or "old and toothless", as Spain manager Luis Aragonés put it.27 June 2006 È il trionfo della 'vecchia' Francia http://www.repubblica.it/2006/06/speciale/altri/2006mondialipartite/francia-spagna/francia-spagna.html La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 In the knockout stage, carried by a rejuvenated Zidane (who had been quiet until then), the French overcame Spain (3–1) in the round of 16, defending champions Brazil (1–0) in the quarter-finals,1 July 2006 Zidane è ancora il re. Brasile eliminato http://www.repubblica.it/2006/06/speciale/altri/2006mondialipartite/brasile-francia/brasile-francia.html La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 and Luís Figo's Portugal in the semi-final (1–0), which featured a young Cristiano Ronaldo in his first World Cup experience.5 July 2006 Rigore Zidane, Francia in finale, sfiderà l'Italia per il Mondiale http://www.repubblica.it/2006/06/speciale/altri/2006mondialipartite/portogallo-francia/portogallo-francia.html La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 Italy Italy's campaign in the tournament was accompanied by open pessimism,http://english.people.com.cn/200605/23/eng20060523_267753.html Scandal threatening to bury Italy's Cup dream People's Daily Online 23 May 2006 21 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121019223102/http://english.people.com.cn/200605/23/eng20060523_267753.html 19 October 2012 liveBrewin John Williamson Martin 1 May 2014 World Cup History: 2006 https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37364051/2006 Soccer on ESPN 28 June 2026 in large part due to the controversy caused by the Serie A scandal.Buckley Kevin 21 May 2006 Lippi the latest to be sucked into crisis https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/may/21/newsstory.sport2 The Guardian 27 June 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060526072033/http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0%2C%2C1779716%2C00.html 26 May 2006 liveCox Michael 8 March 2026 How Italy won the 2006 World Cup: Six forwards, Pirlo's control and overcoming Calciopoli https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7093496/2026/03/08/how-italy-won-the-2006-world-cup/ The Athletic 28 June 2026 Italy arrived at the 2006 World Cup in a decidedly complicated situation. During that year, the world of Italian football had been heavily shaken by the Calciopoli scandal, during which a series of relationships between club directors and representatives of the refereeing class had emerged, limited to the 2004–2005 Serie A season. It later emerged that these relations, which were not limited to the Italian league and were formally banned across Europe only in the aftermath of the scandal following the example of Italy,13 March 2008 La violazione dell'art. 1 del CGS e la slealtà sportiva. Ante e post calciopoli https://www.ju29ro.com/articoli/farsopoli/189-la-violazione-dellart-1-del-cgs-e-la-slealta-sportiva-ante-e-post-calciopoli 30 June 2026 Ju29ro.com it had been encouraged by the FIGC itself and the then FIGC president Franco Carraro in order to promote good relations among clubs and avoid further controversies, such as complaining in public about referees. The club most affected by sports justice was Juventus,Sconti: sorridono Juve e Lazio http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2006/10_Ottobre/27/arbitratoiniziato.shtml dead La Gazzetta dello Sport 27 October 2006 it https://web.archive.org/web/20061106211255/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2006/10_Ottobre/27/arbitratoiniziato.shtml 6 November 2006 30 June 2026 the only club to be relegated to Serie B despite similar violations to the other four Serie A clubs (Fiorentina, Lazio, Milan, and Reggina) initially involved in the scandal. Perhaps the most famous scandal of match-fixing in association football, such as that the prosecution spoke of many fixed matches and multiple leagues that had been altered through corrupted referees and rigged drawing lots, all of which were widely publicised by the press and taken for granted by the public, the sentences ultimately debunked these allegations, with no match fixing, no involved players (unlike previous and subsequent match-fixing scandals), no corrupted referees, no exchange or trace of money involved, and no rigged drawing lots. Ultimately, Calciopoli was about alleged violations and early consumation crimes (sporting fraud) that instead revolved around the referee grids, which were discussed between the referee designators and most clubs (which was allowed by the FIGC or at least it was not explicitily against the rules at the time), did not affect the game as they were significantly preliminary (as also found by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Turin in 2004) and there would still be a drawing lot procedure (found to be regular), and were easily predictable due to the preclusion rules. As often happened in the history of the Azzurri, also in this case the Bianconeri represented the backbone of the Italian national team, managed on this occasion by Marcello Lippi, a historic ex-Juventus manager; Lippi himself, with a son (Davide Lippi) who was an agent linked to the GEA World, a sports agent company that was implicated in the scandal but whose members were ultimately acquitted from criminal conspiracy charges in the criminal trials in Rome,8 January 2009 Il misero crollo della prima cupola http://www.ju29ro.com/farsopoli/1-farsopoli/789-il-misero-crollo-della-prima-cupola.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20170206140053/http://www.ju29ro.com/farsopoli/1-farsopoli/789-il-misero-crollo-della-prima-cupola.html 6 February 2017 30 June 2026 Ju29ro.com it15 January 2014 Lo sbriciolamento della prima cupola https://www.ju29ro.com/5442-lo-sbriciolamento-della-prima-cupola 30 June 2026 Ju29ro.com it was the target of a media campaign aimed at pushing him to resign for reasons of expediency,Sorrentino Andrea 12 May 2006 Lippi, il partito delle dimissioni: 'Il ct faccia un passo indietro' http://www.repubblica.it/2006/05/sezioni/sport/calcio/lippi-partito-dimissioni/lippi-partito-dimissioni/lippi-partito-dimissioni.html La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 with many even calling for Italy's exclusion from the World Cup.Panella Luigi 10 November 2022 Mondiali di calcio 2006: Italia campione del mondo. Il rigore di Grosso e Cannavaro con la coppa al cielo https://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/esteri/2022/11/10/news/mondiali_calcio_2006_italia_campione_lippi_grosso_cannavaro-373918969/ La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 Italy were drawn in Group E alongside Ghana, the United States, and Czech Republic, opening against Ghana on 12 June 2006. Italy took the lead through midfielder Andrea Pirlo in the 40th minute, eventually winning the match by a score of 2–0.Dampf Andrew 12 June 2006 https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/12/AR2006061201171.html The Washington Post 5 May 2010 Pirlo Leads Italy Past Ghana at World Cup https://web.archive.org/web/20110513231811/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/12/AR2006061201171.html 13 May 2011 live In their next match against the United States on 17 June, Italy took the lead in the 22nd minute with an Alberto Gilardino goal, but five minutes later Cristian Zaccardo scored an own goal off an attempted clearance following a free-kick, and the match eventually remained a 1–1 draw; this was one of only two goals Italy conceded throughout the tournament.http://www.repubblica.it/2006/06/speciale/altri/2006mondialipartite/italia-stati-uniti/italia-stati-uniti.html Italia-Usa: la guerra che non-si voleva Pari con 3 espulsi. Qualificazione rinviata La Repubblica it 17 June 2006 16 March 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150403015335/http://www.repubblica.it/2006/06/speciale/altri/2006mondialipartite/italia-stati-uniti/italia-stati-uniti.html 3 April 2015 live In that match, Daniele De Rossi received a straight red card after he elbowed Brian McBride in the face; he left the pitch bloodied, but returned after treatment, later receiving three stitches.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853182.stm Italy 1–1 USA BBC Sport 17 June 2006 10 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120209222510/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853182.stm 9 February 2012 live De Rossi later apologised to McBride, who subsequently praised him as "classy" for approaching him after the match.http://soccer.sportsnet.tsn.ca/news_story/?id=246 De Rossi apologizes to McBride for elbow TSN 25 July 2016 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070929174054/http://soccer.sportsnet.tsn.ca/news_story/?id=246 29 September 2007 Because of the incident, De Rossi was banned for four matches and was fined CHF 10,000.http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=372274&cc=5901 https://web.archive.org/web/20090211074318/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=372274&cc=5901 dead 11 February 2009 Italy's De Rossi gets four-match ban from FIFA 23 June 2006 10 February 2012 ESPN SoccerNet Their third and final group stage match was against Czech Republic on 22 June. Marco Materazzi, who had begun the tournament as a reserve player, came on as a replacement for Alessandro Nesta who suffered an injury in the match.Thomas Russell 26 June 2006 https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/26/worldcup2006.sport9 Business as usual for Italy despite concern over Nesta The Guardian 20 October 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181020094956/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/26/worldcup2006.sport9 20 October 2018 live Materazzi went on to score a goal in the match, and was named Man of the Match of an eventual 2–0 win, finishing top of the group with seven points.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853358.stm Czech Republic 0–2 Italy BBC Sport 22 June 2006 14 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151222162421/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853358.stm 22 December 2015 live In the round of 16 on 26 June, Italy took on Australia in a match in which Materazzi was controversially sent off in the 53rd minute after an attempted two-footed tackle on Australian midfielder Mark Bresciano. In stoppage time, a controversial penalty kick was awarded to Italy when referee Luis Medina Cantalejo ruled that Lucas Neill fouled Fabio Grosso. Francesco Totti converted the kick into the upper corner of the goal past Mark Schwarzer for a 1–0 win.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991534.stm Italy 1–0 Australia 26 June 2006 BBC Sport 18 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20160105221857/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991534.stm 5 January 2016 live FIFA president Sepp Blatter later conceded that the penalty decision was a refereeing mistake and apologised to Australian fans, saying that he believed there was "too much cheating on the players' side" and that Australia should have reached the quarter-finals instead of Italy.29 October 2006 Blatter apologises for Grosso penalty https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2006/10/29/blatter-apologises-for-grosso-penalty 26 September 2024 Al Jazeera In the quarter-final on 30 June, Italy took on Ukraine, and Gianluca Zambrotta opened the scoring early in the 6th minute with a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area after a quick exchange with Totti created enough space. Luca Toni added two more goals for Italy in the second half, but as Ukraine pressed forward, they were unable to score. Ukraine had hit the crossbar, had several shots saved by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, and were denied a goal from a goal-line clearance from Zambrotta, ultimately ending in a 3–0 win for Italy.Lippi dedicates win to Pessotto https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/italy/5123318.stm BBC Sport 30 June 2006 25 July 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20071227050828/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/italy/5123318.stm 27 December 2007 live In the semi-final on 4 July, Italy beat hosts Germany 2–0 with the two goals coming in the last two minutes of extra time. After a back-and-forth half-hour of extra time, during which Gilardino and Zambrotta struck the post and the crossbar respectively, Grosso scored in the 119th minute after a disguised Pirlo pass found him open in the penalty area for a bending left-footed shot into the far corner past German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann's dive. Substitute striker Alessandro Del Piero then sealed the victory by scoring with a right-footed shot, avenging his mistake in the 2000 Euro final and a period of underperformance with the national squad,Guerriero-Davies Tom 27 June 2016 How misses, a last-minute equaliser and a golden goal broke Italy at Euro 2000 https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-gentleman-ultra/2016/jun/27/italy-france-euro-2000-final-heartbreak The Guardian 28 June 2026Romano Andrea 11 July 2021 L'urlo di Tardelli, l'esultanza di Pertini, il rigore di Grosso, lo sguardo fisso di Baggio: lo sbloccaricordi, ovvero le finali dell'Italia in una foto https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2021/07/11/lurlo-di-tardelli-lesultanza-di-pertini-il-rigore-di-grosso-lo-sguardo-fisso-di-baggio-lo-sbloccaricordi-ovvero-le-finali-dellitalia-in-una-foto/6256391/8/ Il Fatto Quotidiano 28 June 2026 it in what was the last kick of the game at the end of a swift counterattack by Fabio Cannavaro, Totti, and Gilardino.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991640.stm Germany 0–2 Italy (aet) 4 July 2006 BBC Sport 18 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090419001247/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991640.stm 19 April 2009 liveJuventus profile FIFA Club World Cup 2025 https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/club-world-cup/usa-2025/articles/juventus-club-profile-history-players-qualified FIFA 30 November 2024 28 June 2026 France France was going through a difficult time on the sporting side. After being eliminated from the UEFA Euro 2004 by Otto Rehhagel's outsider Greece, the eventual winners of the tournament, manager Jacques Santini had been removed from the Bleus bench and replaced by Raymond Domenech, who was charged with carrying out a generational change that could no longer be postponed; however, the first qualifying matches for the 2006 World Cup had given inconsistent results for France, who managed to obtain the qualification only thanks to the subsequent return to the team of veterans Claude Makélélé, Lilian Thuram, and Zinédine Zidane, who had previously announced their retirement from the national team on several occasions.Crosetti Maurizio Voilà Domenech, il più bistrattato dei ct http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2006/07/03/voila-domenech-il-piu-bistrattato-dei-ct.html La Repubblica 3 July 2006 it 30 June 2026 On the eve of the tournament, rumours also circulated of a divided dressing room, as well as of a bad relationship between Domenech and some players.Gualerzi Valerio 3 July 2006 Domenech, l'astrologo di Francia tra i rudi della pampa e l'oroscopo http://www.repubblica.it/2006/07/speciale/mondiali/servizi/domenech-francia/domenech-francia/domenech-francia.html La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 France were drawn in Group G alongside Switzerland, South Korea, and Togo, opening against Switzerland on 13 June 2006. The match ended in a scoreless draw.https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4852856.stm France 0–0 Switzerland BBC Sport 13 June 2006 19 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20080516045509/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4852856.stm 16 May 2008 live In their next match against South Korea on 18 June, France took the lead in the 9th minute after Thierry Henry picked up Sylvain Wiltord's deflected shot. Later, a header by Patrick Vieira crossed the goal-line after being blocked by Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae, but referee Benito Archundia did not give the goal as he had deemed Vieira to have committed a foul. With about 10 minutes left, Park Ji-sung scored for Korea to claim an eventual 1–1 draw.https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853220.stm France 1–1 South Korea BBC Sport 18 June 2006 19 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20110913084041/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853220.stm 13 September 2011 live Their third and final group stage match was against Togo on 23 June, and France needed a victory to progress from the group stage. After a goalless first half, Vieira and Henry scored two second half goals within six minutes of each other to win 2–0, and finish second in the group with five points.https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853462.stm Togo 0–2 France BBC Sport 23 June 2006 19 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20110913080713/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853462.stm 13 September 2011 live In the round of 16 on 27 June, France took on Spain in a match in which Spain took the lead in the first half with a penalty kick converted by David Villa after Thuram fouled Pablo. Four minutes before half time, Franck Ribéry equalised the score, and with seven minutes before the end of regulation time, Vieira scored from a header for France to take the lead. As Spain pushed forward to find an equaliser, Zidane scored in a solo effort in stoppage time, for a final score of 3–1 for France.https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991524.stm Spain 1–3 France BBC Sport 27 June 2006 19 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20110913080507/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991524.stm 13 September 2011 live In the quarter-final on 1 July, France took on Brazil; France won with a lone goal in the 57th minute by Henry after he volleyed a Zidane free kick to end Brazil's reign as world champions.https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991616.stm Brazil 0–1 France BBC Sport 1 July 2006 19 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20110913080523/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991616.stm 13 September 2011 live In the semi-final against Portugal on 5 July, France won again with a lone goal, this time from a first half Zidane penalty kick after Henry was tripped inside the box by Ricardo Carvalho.https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991632.stm Portugal 0–1 France BBC Sport 5 July 2006 Pre-match The official match ball for the final was the + Teamgeist Berlin, a gold-coloured variation of the Adidas Teamgeist, which was unveiled on 18 April 2006.https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/golden-teamgeist-berlin-ball-for-the-fifa-world-cup-final-19615 Golden 'Teamgeist Berlin' ball for the FIFA World Cup Final FIFA 18 April 2006 12 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20190517103240/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/golden-teamgeist-berlin-ball-for-the-fifa-world-cup-final-19615 17 May 2019 dead The Adidas Teamgeist was used as the official match ball throughout the tournament, provided by German sports equipment company Adidas. On 6 July 2006, Argentine Horacio Elizondo was chosen as referee for the final, ahead of German Markus Merk and Slovak Ľuboš Micheľ.Elizondo chosen as Cup final ref https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5152952.stm BBC Sport 6 July 2006 6 July 2006 14 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210714202300/https://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/v51.js live Elizondo became a referee in 1994 and refereed his first international match in 1996.http://www.fifa.com/en/development/refereeing/index/0,1247,72546,00.html?articleid=72546 dead Horacio Elizondo: 'Referees need to be clinical' 4 November 2003 FIFA https://web.archive.org/web/20060719062459/http://www.fifa.com/en/development/refereeing/index/0,1247,72546,00.html?articleid=72546 19 July 2006 1 June 2006 His compatriots, Darío García and Rodolfo Otero, were chosen as assistant referees, and the Spanish Luis Medina Cantalejo as fourth official.Fourth Official: I saw Zidane's Headbutt ESPN SoccerNet 11 July 2006 http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=373704&cc=5901 11 July 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060718093708/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=373704&cc=5901 18 July 2006 dead Elizondo had given England striker Wayne Rooney a red card against Portugal previously in the tournament.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5130880.stm Rooney's dismissal stuns England BBC Sport 1 July 2006 1 July 2006 Given the presence of four European semi-finalists, the FIFA refereeing committee deemed that refereeing crews for the final four matches should not consist of officials from that continent. For Elizondo, it was his fifth match of the 2006 World Cup and his first officiating either of the two finalists.Monti Fabio http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2006/luglio/07/finale_Elizondo_arbitro_poeta_co_9_060707050.shtml La finale a Elizondo, l'arbitro-poeta Corriere della Sera 7 July 2006 57 https://web.archive.org/web/20151117032412/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2006/luglio/07/finale_Elizondo_arbitro_poeta_co_9_060707050.shtml 17 November 2015 dead it 30 June 2026 Italy's team doctor Enrico Castellacci confirmed on 6 July that Alessandro Nesta was ruled out of the final due to a groin injury he sustained against the Czech Republic on 22 June; France reported no injuries.Thomas Russell 7 July 2006 https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jul/07/worldcup2006.sport3 Injured Nesta ruled out of final in a heartbreaking hat-trick The Guardian 17 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20140924232855/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jul/07/worldcup2006.sport3 24 September 2014 livehttps://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/nesta-italy-shrug-off-favourites-tag-11899 https://web.archive.org/web/20200724141523/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/nesta-italy-shrug-off-favourites-tag-11899 dead 24 July 2020 No Nesta as Italy shrug off favourites' tag FIFA 6 July 2006 6 July 2006 Before the match started, a closing ceremony was organised by FIFA, lasting about 10 minutes and featuring Il Divo singing their song "The Time of Our Lives", which was the official song of the 2006 World Cup, as well as Shakira and Wyclef Jean singing a rendition of their song "Hips Don't Lie".https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/2006-fifa-world-cup-closing-ceremony-programme-17195 2006 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony programme FIFA 8 July 2006 11 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200412044101/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/2006-fifa-world-cup-closing-ceremony-programme-17195 12 April 2020 livehttps://www.billboard.com/music/latin/shakira-world-best-world-cup-performances-6157581/ 'La La La,' 'Waka Waka,' or 'Hips Don't Lie': Which Shakira World Cup Performance Is Best? Billboard 14 July 2014 12 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200412041118/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/6157581/shakira-world-best-world-cup-performances 12 April 2020 live Unable to test the pitch at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, which had been softened by rain, Lippi finalised his tactical moves at the training ground of MSV Duisburg, where he tested several players in multiple roles, especially Alessandro Del Piero in the unusual position of left wide midfielder.https://www.repubblica.it/2006/07/dirette/sezioni/calcio/mondiali/ottoluglio/index.html Berlino, vigilia col maltempo. Lippi: 'Vince chi ha più fame' 8 July 2006 30 June 2026 La Repubblica it He also included his assistant coach Ciro Ferrara, a former Juventus defender, in the training sessions to compensate for the absence of Nesta,Gualerzi Valerio http://www.repubblica.it/2006/07/speciale/mondiali/servizi/allenamento-vigilia-finale/allenamento-vigilia-finale/allenamento-vigilia-finale.html Lippi non cambia formazione e prova rigori e fuorigioco 8 July 2006 10 December 2015 La Repubblica it who failed to recover from the injury sustained against the Czechs,http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/mondiali/articoli/articolo317586.shtml Nesta salta anche la finale 6 July 2006 30 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20151211142236/http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/mondiali/articoli/articolo317586.shtml 11 December 2015 dead TGcom24 it effectively handing his spot to Marco Materazzi, who had performed well in the tournament up to that point. Lippi ultimately confirmed the same starting eleven that had defeated Germany in the semi-final: Gianluigi Buffon in goal, Fabio Cannavaro and Materazzi as central defenders, Fabio Grosso at left-back, Gianluca Zambrotta at right-back, Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo as central midfielders, Simone Perrotta as the left midfielder, Mauro Camoranesi as the right midfielder, Francesco Totti as the attacking midfielder, and Luca Toni as centre forward. Just like the Azzurri, the French starting eleven offered no surprises. Domenech persisted with a formation that was in many ways a mirror image of Lippi's team: veteran Fabien Barthez in goal—preferred from the start over Grégory Coupet despite grumbles from the press—William Gallas and Lilian Thuram as central defenders, Willy Sagnol at right-back, Éric Abidal at left-back, Claude Makélélé and Patrick Vieira as central defensive midfielders, Florent Malouda as the left winger, Franck Ribéry as the right winger, and Thierry Henry as the lone striker looking to convert finalisations from Zinédine Zidane.Gualerzi Valerio http://www.repubblica.it/2006/07/speciale/mondiali/servizi/francia-prima-finale/francia-prima-finale/francia-prima-finale.html Domenech: 'Me ne frego'. O no? E Zidane si prepara in silenzio 8 July 2006 30 June 2026 La Repubblica it The French manager allowed the media to watch only the first fifteen minutes of the final training session, attempting to conceal his starting line-up against Italy for as long as possible. Match Summary thumb|left|A phase of play on a dead ball, with France's Lilian Thuram and Zidane behind, and Italy's Francesco Totti and Luca Toni on the right The final started with each side scoring within the first 20 minutes, making it the only World Cup final from 1990 to 2014 in which both finalists scored. Referee Elizondo awarded a penalty kick when he deemed Florent Malouda to have been fouled by Marco Materazzi.Cup final will be remembered for ugliness http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5767794 Fox Soccer 12 July 2006 12 July 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060715040434/http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5767794 15 July 2006 dead Zinedine Zidane opened the scoring when he converted this kick in the 7th minute with a Panenka that glanced off the underside of the crossbar and into the goal.https://www.fifa.com/newscentre/features/news/newsid=1655278/index.html The cult of the Panenka penalty FIFA 25 June 2012 3 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120702120609/http://www.fifa.com/newscentre/features/news/newsid=1655278/index.html 2 July 2012 dead Materazzi redeemed himself for Italy when he levelled the score in the 19th minute, a header from an Andrea Pirlo corner.https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/italy-france-pso-25460 Italy 1-1 France a.e.t 5-3 PSO FIFA 9 July 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20200724143114/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/italy-france-pso-25460 24 July 2020 In the 36th minute, Luca Toni struck the crossbar with a header from another Pirlo corner. At half time, the score was level at 1–1. The beginning of the second half was largely controlled by France, also seeking a penalty early on when Malouda went to ground in the box after a tackle by Gianluca Zambrotta.https://www.football-italia.net/124228/day-italy-win-world-cup On this day: Italy win the World Cup! Football Italia 9 July 2019 19 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20190710143347/https://www.football-italia.net/124228/day-italy-win-world-cup 10 July 2019 live Patrick Vieira was replaced by Alou Diarra in the 56th minute due to an apparent hamstring injury. In the 62nd minute, Toni headed a goal that was disallowed for offside from a Grosso free kick. After the 90 minutes of regulation time, the score was still level at 1–1, forcing the match into extra time. In the 104th minute, Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made a potentially game-saving save when he tipped a Zidane header over the crossbar that had been crossed in from Willy Sagnol. After first half of extra time, the score was still level at 1–1. thumb|500px|Players of the Italy national football team lifting the World Cup trophy In the 108th minute, Zidane and Materazzi were jogging up the pitch alongside each other. They briefly exchanged words and Materazzi pulled at Zidane's jersey; Zidane then delivered a headbutt to Materazzi's chest, knocking him to the ground. As the game play had switched direction, Buffon protested to the assistant referee, who did not see what had happened.https://www.si.com/soccer/2016/07/08/zinedine-zidane-headbutt-materazzi-world-cup-france-italy-2006 Zinedine Zidane's World Cup final headbutt recalled, 10 years later Sports Illustrated 8 July 2016 17 April 2020 14 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210714202342/https://www.si.com/soccer/2016/07/08/zinedine-zidane-headbutt-materazzi-world-cup-france-italy-2006 live When the play returned and referee Elizondo saw Materazzi on the ground, he halted play to consult his assistants. According to match officials' reports, the referee and his assistants did not see what had transpired; however, Elizondo consulted fourth official Luis Medina Cantalejo via headset, who confirmed the incident.https://www.football-italia.net/42269/ref-who-saw-zidane-hit-materazzi Ref: 'Who saw Zidane hit Materazzi' Football Italia 28 November 2013 17 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20160503001620/http://www.football-italia.net/42269/ref-who-saw-zidane-hit-materazzi 3 May 2016 live Elizondo then issued Zidane a red card in the 110th minute.Williams Richard 10 July 2006 Zidane exits the stage with a walk of shame The Guardian London https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jul/10/worldcup2006.sport6 10 July 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060929133238/http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/comment/story/0%2C%2C1816900%2C00.html 29 September 2006 live It marked the 14th overall expulsion of Zidane's career and meant he joined Cameroon's Rigobert Song as the only players ever to be sent off during two separate World Cup tournaments.Buckingham Mark 2006 1998 World Cup – France Sky Sports http://home.skysports.com/worldcup/historyarticle.aspx?hlid=373681 11 July 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060703033753/http://home.skysports.com/worldcup/historyarticle.aspx?hlid=373681 3 July 2006 deadPagani Francesco Federico 22 May 2010 FIFA World Cup records: i record Mondiali! https://sciabolatamorbida.wordpress.com/2010/05/22/fifa-world-cup-records-i-record-mondiali/ dead Sciabolata Morbida it https://web.archive.org/web/20111121120955/https://sciabolatamorbida.wordpress.com/2010/05/22/fifa-world-cup-records-i-record-mondiali/ 21 November 2011 2 July 2026With his sending-off in the World Cup final, Zinedine Zidane equalled the record for the most yellow cards (Brazil's Cafu, 6) and red cards (Cameroon's Rigobert Song, 2) collected by a single player in World Cup history. nb He also became the fourth player red-carded in a World Cup final, in addition to being the first sent off in extra time.Zidane sent off in extra time for head butt ESPN SoccerNet 9 July 2006 http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=373588&cc=5901 11 July 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060811220022/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=373588&cc=5901 11 August 2006 dead After extra time, the score was still level at 1–1, forcing the match into a penalty shoot-out. France's David Trezeguet, who had scored the golden goal against Italy in the UEFA Euro 2000 final, was the only player not to score his penalty after his kick hit the crossbar, shot down after its impact, and stayed just ahead of the goal-line. Fabio Grosso, who scored Italy's first goal in the semi-final win against Germany, scored the winning penalty and Italy won its fourth World Cup (its first since 1982) by a score of 5–3.Stevenson Jonathan 9 July 2006 https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991652.stm Italy 1–1 France (aet) BBC Sport 18 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20180930122300/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991652.stm 30 September 2018 live Analysis thumb|upright|left|Until Zidane's penalty, Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon had kept a clean sheet for 458 minutes. Following the opening performance by Shakira and Wyclef Jean, who performed a special version of "Hips Don't Lie" called "The Bamboo Version", the final commenced, with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, French President Jacques Chirac, and other political figures, including the Italian sports minister Giovanna Melandri, in attendance. The Italian and French line-ups were exactly as anticipated on the eve of the match, captained respectively by Cannavaro—one of the two Italian starters, along with Totti, who were veterans of the Euro 2000 final,10 July 2006 L'Italia Campione del mondo, Gattuso: 'Ha vinto una squadra operaia' http://www.repubblica.it/2006/07/dirette/sezioni/calcio/mondiali/giornofinale/index.html La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 and Zidane, who was playing the final match of his 19-year career. Of the 28 players who took to the pitch that night, 8 were under contract with the Italian club Juventus; in doing so, the Bianconeri equalled the record established 72 years earlier by the Czechoslovaks of Slavia Prague.28 May 2015 Fußball Weltmeisterschaft 1934 in Italien http://fussballweltmeisterschaft.npage.de/1934.html Fußball Weltmeisterschaft de 30 June 2026 dead 28 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150528012348/http://fussballweltmeisterschaft.npage.de/1934.html The first half was fierce and lively but above all highly physical and littered with fouls. Henry was the first to suffer from this, remaining on the ground after an accidental collision with Cannavaro just a few minutes after the opening whistle. Shortly after, the Azzurri picked up their first booking due to a foul by Zambrotta on Vieira. The deadlock was broken in the 7th minute when Frenchman Malouda won, with some astuteness,Mura Gianni 10 July 2006 Benedetti undici metri https://www.repubblica.it/sport/2020/03/21/news/benedetti_undici_metri-301024351/ La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 Republished on 21 March 2020. a penalty kick following a challenge from Materazzi. Zidane stepped up to the spot and attempted a Panenka-style chip, sending the ball to strike the underside of the crossbar before bouncing past the goal line, a shot against which Buffon could do nothing.Caioli Luca 2007 https://books.google.com/books?id=3UdCgEvWC8EC Zidane. 110 minutes pour partir Paris Éditions Prolongations fr 51 978-2-916400-16-7 2 July 2026Lahouri Besma 2010 https://books.google.com/books?id=0AZGAQAAIAAJ Zidane, une vie secrète Paris Éditions Succès du livre fr 22 978-2-08-120427-0 2 July 2026 For the first time during this edition of the World Cup, Italy found themselves trailing. The Azzurri attempted to react immediately but with little success. The Italian team played stretched out and disorganised, in contrast to a more compact and tighter French formation.Mura Gianni 2013 https://books.google.com/books?id=okTx0AEACAAJ Non gioco più, me ne vado. Gregari e campioni, coppe e bidoni Milan Il Saggiatore it 85 978-88-428-1752-9 2 July 2026 Thuram cut out a dangerous cross from Pirlo, Totti struggled to find space, partly due to tight marking from Makélélé and Vieira, and Grosso found it difficult to contain a dangerous and unpredictable Ribéry.Gualerzi Valerio 9 July 2006 Buffon, Grosso, Cannavaro e Materazzi, la grande difesa ci regala la Coppa http://www.repubblica.it/2006/07/speciale/mondiali/servizi/pagelle-itafra/pagelle-itafra/pagelle-itafra.html La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 Pirlo attempted to hold the reins of an Italian game that he could not dictate as fluidly as in previous matches. The equalizer came in the 19th minute, after 12 minutes of suffering, from a corner kick taken by Pirlo; Materazzi, redeeming himself for the penalty conceded earlier, outjumped Vieira and headed the ball past Barthez. The goal energised the Azzurri. France was caught off guard by the aerial game of the Italian national side, which reduced their offensive impact and favored Italian possession. With the passing lanes closed off for Ribéry and Henry, the Italian pressing on Zidane was also highly effective. France reappeared near the opposing box in the 25th minute with a cross from Ribéry cut out by Materazzi. In the 36th minute, Toni came close to giving Italy the lead, striking the crossbar with a header from a corner kick taken by Pirlo. Around the half-hour mark of the first half, an electrical power failure shut down the giant screens inside the Olympiastadion and blanked the monitors in the press box, complicating the work of journalists. The first half, which was overall favourable to the Azzurri, concluded at 1–1. thumb|upright|The red card received in the final was the concluding act of Zinedine Zidane's career. The second half began without substitutions. The Azzurri sat back in defence, leaving room for the French to dictate play. Early on, a run by Henry culminated in a weak shot, saved comfortably by Buffon. In the 56th minute, France made their first change: Vieira came off due to injury and was replaced by Alou Diarra. Lippi reshaped his team by bringing on Iaquinta and De Rossi, the latter returning from his suspension, in place of the less impactful Totti and Perrotta respectively. A few seconds later, in the 62nd minute, a headed goal by Toni from a Grosso free kick was disallowed for offside. In the 79th minute, Zidane complained of severe pain in his right shoulder following a collision with Cannavaro but remained on the pitch. In the 86th minute, Lippi substituted Del Piero for a tired Camoranesi. After two minutes of stoppage time, with the score deadlocked at 1–1, the match headed into extra time. In extra time, the teams maintained the same tactics. France engineered two highly dangerous opportunities: a shot by Ribéry in the 99th minute that flashed just wide and a powerful header from Zidane in the 104th minute that was tipped over the bar by a reflex save from Buffon, who tipped the ball over the crossbar. Domenech adjusted his formation, shifting Henry out wide and deploying Trezeguet, who had just replaced Ribéry, as a central striker. During the brief interval, an exhausted Henry left the pitch for Sylvain Wiltord. In the 108th minute, Zidane and Materazzi were walking back toward the French half when a verbal exchange took place between the two. Just as everything appeared to have returned to normal, after taking a few steps forward, Zidane suddenly turned around and delivered a headbutt to Materazzi's chest, sending him falling to the ground. The foul, flagged to referee Elizondo by the fourth official Cantalejo,7 March 2016 L'arbitro Elizondo: 'Non vidi testata di Zidane' http://www.agi.it/sport/calcio/notizie/201005291501-spr-rom0054-mondiali_l_arbitro_elizondo_non_vidi_testata_di_zidane AGI it 30 June 2026 dead 7 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160307043149/http://www.agi.it/sport/calcio/notizie/201005291501-spr-rom0054-mondiali_l_arbitro_elizondo_non_vidi_testata_di_zidane resulted in a straight red card for Zidane; however, Italy was unable to capitalise on their numerical superiority, and extra time ended in a stalemate. For the second time in history, following the 1994 final (in which Italy was also a finalist), the World Cup had to be decided by a penalty shoot-out. After four penalties each, the Azzurri had all converted successfully through Pirlo, Materazzi, De Rossi, and Del Piero, while France had scored through Wiltord, Abidal, and Sagnol but missed their second attempt through Trezeguet, whose shot struck the crossbar. It was Grosso who converted the definitive spot-kick to seal a 5–3 victory, delivering Italy the fourth World Cup title in their history after those of 1934, 1938, and 1982.9 July 2016 Dieci anni fa Italia campione del mondo. L'anniversario su Twitter: 'Indimenticabile' https://www.repubblica.it/sport/2016/07/09/foto/italia_francia_campioni_del_mondo_rigori_ricorrenza-143735798/ La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 At the conclusion of the match, Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo was named Man of the Match; he had been previously named the Man of the Match against Ghana in the group stage and against Germany in the semi-final.9 July 2006 Budweiser Man of the Match: Andrea PIRLO (ITA) http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060709/1/8qgg.html FIFA 9 July 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20060719220634/http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060709/1/8qgg.html 19 July 2006 Overall, France performed well (Zidane was awarded the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament),5 July 2020 Zinedine Zidane's headbutt on Marco Materazzi Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb16JvUCVQs video FIFA it 30 June 2026 YouTube occupying the pitch effectively and maintaining width. On the other hand, Italy won the World Cup through highly organised collective play and excellent physical conditioning; in particular, Buffon concluded the tournament without conceding a single goal from open play by an opponent (the only one he conceded was caused by teammate Cristian Zaccardo via an own goal in the match against the United States), winning the FIFA World Cup Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper of the tournament, while centre-back Cannavaro (who went on to win the 2006 Ballon d'Or, with Buffon as runner-up) received the FIFA World Cup Silver Ball as the second best player of the tournament—a testament to the quality of the Azzurri defence, which was decisively their strongest department throughout the entire competition. Details 2006 7 9 y 20:00 CEST ITA 2003 2006 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#Final 1–1 2006 FIFA World Cup final yes FRA 1974 Materazzi 19 Zidane 7 pen. Olympiastadion, Berlin 69,000 Horacio Elizondo (Argentina) Pirlo Materazzi De Rossi Del Piero Grosso 5–3 Wiltord Trezeguet Abidal Sagnol https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/17/9741/10166/97410064 Italy vs France Final 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany FIFA 1 May 2026 http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=97410600/match=97410064/index.html 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany – Matches – Italy v France FIFA 1 May 2026 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041245/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=97410600/match=97410064/index.html 1 December 2017 http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/06/w/pdf/64_0709_brl_ita-fra_fulltime__1152478088.pdf Match Report – Final – Italy v France FIFA 9 July 2006 1 May 2026 live https://web.archive.org/web/20260413055221/http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/06/w/pdf/64_0709_brl_ita-fra_fulltime__1152478088.pdf 13 April 2026 _ita06h2 _ita06h2 _ita06h2 _ita06a2 _ita06h2l 2050C0 2050C0 2050C0 2050C0 2050C0 Italy _fra06A _fra06A _fra06A _fra06H1 _fra06Al FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF France GK 1 Gianluigi BuffonRB 19Gianluca Zambrotta 5CB 5 Fabio Cannavaro (c)CB 23Marco MaterazziLB 3 Fabio GrossoRM 16Mauro Camoranesi 86CM 8 Gennaro GattusoCM 21Andrea PirloLM 20Simone Perrotta 61AM 10Francesco Totti 61CF 9 Luca ToniSubstitutions:MF 4 Daniele De Rossi 61FW 15Vincenzo Iaquinta 61FW 7 Alessandro Del Piero 86Manager:Marcello Lippi300px GK 16Fabien BarthezRB 19Willy Sagnol 12CB 15Lilian ThuramCB 5 William GallasLB 3 Eric AbidalCM 4 Patrick Vieira 56CM 6 Claude Makélélé 76RW 22Franck Ribéry 100AM 10Zinedine Zidane (c) 0 110LW 7 Florent Malouda 111CF 12Thierry Henry 107Substitutions:MF 18 Alou Diarra 56FW 20 David Trezeguet 100FW 11 Sylvain Wiltord 107Manager:Raymond Domenech Man of the Match: Andrea Pirlo (Italy) Assistant referees: Darío García (Argentina) Rodolfo Otero (Argentina) Fourth official: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain) Fifth official: Víctoriano Giráldez Carrasco (Spain) |}Match rules: 90 minutes 30 minutes of extra time if scores level Penalty shoot-out if scores still level 12 substitutes named, of which three may be used Statistics +OverallItalyFranceGoals scored11Total shots513Shots on target36Ball possession55%45%Corner kicks57Fouls committed1724Offsides42Yellow cards13Red cards01 Viewership According to FIFA, 715.1 million individuals globally watched the final match of this tournament.2009 https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/marketing/factsfigures/tvdata.html TV Data FIFA 24 November 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090830065721/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/marketing/factsfigures/tvdata.html 30 August 2009 The final Italy – France [had] a global cumulative audience of 715.1 million viewers. dead IPG's independent media agency Initiative Worldwide estimated a 260 million people viewership.http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601077&sid=aOYdMOmxoV4c&refer=intsports https://web.archive.org/web/20090209011218/http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601077&sid=aOYdMOmxoV4c&refer=intsports dead 9 February 2009 Soccer World Cup Final Had Sport's Largest TV Audience of 2006 Bloomberg 19 December 2006 The independent firm Initiative Futures Sport + Entertainment estimates it at 322 million viewers.http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2010/06/10/world-cup-final-will-vie-for-record-of-second-most-watched-event-in-human-history-100605/ World Cup final 'will vie for record of second most-watched event in human history' Sporting Intelligence 10 June 2010 9 January 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110501033521/http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2010/06/10/world-cup-final-will-vie-for-record-of-second-most-watched-event-in-human-history-100605/ 1 May 2011 live As for the viewership in the two countries involved, the broadcast on Italy's Rai 1 reached a maximum of 25,384,000 viewers and an 87.03% share during the penalty shoot-out, while the broadcast on France's TF1 had a general average of 22,140,000 viewers and an 80.03% share. This is the highest audience figure recorded by Italy's Auditel in the 2000s, while for France this is the second highest audience figure since 1989, the year in which Médiamétrie began its surveys.Italia-Francia, in 28 milioni davanti alla tv https://www.corriere.it/Speciali/Extra/2006/Germania2006/diario/Auditelfinale.html Corriere della Sera 10 July 2006 30 June 2026 itClassifica Auditel: i 50 programmi più visti degli ultimi 10 anni (2001-2011). Al primo posto Italia-Francia 2006 https://www.tvblog.it/post/auditel-programmi-piu-visti-classifica-decennale TvBlog 4 April 2012 30 June 2026 it Post-match Celebrations and aftermath thumb|left|Italian fans celebrating the 2006 World Cup win at the Circus Maximus in Rome German president Horst Köhler, UEFA president Lennart Johansson, and the local organising committee president Franz Beckenbauer were among those present on the pitch stage during the awards ceremony. President Köhler handed the trophy to Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro without FIFA president Sepp Blatter's presence.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nELaL14ms7A https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/nELaL14ms7A 14 November 2021 live Matchday Live – 2006 Italy vs. France FIFA 4 May 2018 video 4 May 2018 YouTube As Cannavaro raised the trophy, a short version of Patrizio Buanne's "Stand Up (Champions Theme)" was played. The victory also led to Italy topping the FIFA World Rankings in February 2007 for the first time since November 1993.Italy oust Brazil to take top spot https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/news/y=2007/m=2/news=italy-oust-brazil-take-top-spot-111685.html https://web.archive.org/web/20170202143215/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/news/y=2007/m=2/news=italy-oust-brazil-take-top-spot-111685.html dead 2 February 2017 FIFA 14 February 2007 14 February 2007http://www.squawka.com/en/news/every-major-nations-lowest-fifa-rank-since-records-began/1058227#gFyku6VSM88a4spv.97 Every major nation's lowest FIFA rank since records began Squawka 10 September 2018 12 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20181215215937/http://www.squawka.com/en/news/every-major-nations-lowest-fifa-rank-since-records-began/1058227#gFyku6VSM88a4spv.97 15 December 2018 live Pirlo was awarded the Man of the Match. The day after the final, Zidane was awarded the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball as the player of the tournament.https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/2006-fifa-world-cup-official-fifa-awards-zidane-wins-adidas-golden-bal-16415 2006 FIFA World Cup Official FIFA Awards: Zidane wins adidas Golden Ball award FIFA 10 July 2006 19 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20180714151444/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/2006-fifa-world-cup-official-fifa-awards-zidane-wins-adidas-golden-bal-16415 14 July 2018 live For the front page of Corriere della Sera, Italy's newspaper of record, Gianni Riotta wrote: "In twenty-five years' time, when the generation of boys and girls who are still sleeping blissfully after the night of celebration for Italy's world championship grows up, the memories will remain. In the scrapbook of a lifetime's souvenirs, 9 July 2006 will be pure joy: 'When Italy won, I...Bertocco Fabrizio 9 July 2020 9 luglio 2006: eravamo Campioni del Mondo per la quarta volta https://sport.periodicodaily.com/9-luglio-2006-eravamo-campioni-del-mondo-per-la-quarta-volta/ Periodico Daily Sport it 30 June 2026 Leading sports journalist Gianni Brera described it as a "historic win" for Italy. The Italy team celebrated its victory with a parade in Rome the day after the final on 10 July.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5163914.stm Italian joy at World Cup victory 10 July 2006 BBC Sport 18 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20131104142416/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5163914.stm 4 November 2013 live It was attended by 500,000 people as the team traveled to the Circus Maximus. The team also met with President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Romano Prodi, where all members of the World Cup-winning squad were awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/italy/5164410.stm Italy squad given heroes' welcome 10 July 2006 BBC Sport 18 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20131104142452/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/italy/5164410.stm 4 November 2013 liveThe eight lesser-known football World Cup heroes https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2022/11/18/lesser-known-world-cup-heroes Al Jazeera 18 November 2022 26 June 2026 On 11 July, the squad delivered the FIFA World Cup Trophy to the former Juventus player Gianluca Pessotto,Mauro Alberto 11 July 2006 La Coppa da Pessotto https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Juventus/Primo_Piano/2006/07_Luglio/11/cannavaro-pessotto.shtml 25 June 2026 La Gazzetta dello Sport it who was still in hospital after he fell from a window in Turin in what was alleged to have been a suicide attempt, and dedicated the win to him.Menicucci Paolo 11 July 2006 Azzurri return home in triumph https://it.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/0254-0d7b8c0cff65-4d1a6c5b033f-1000--azzurri-return-home-in-triumph/ 25 June 2026 UEFA.com Italy manager Marcello Lippi said after the game that the win was "an immense joy" and that it took "a lot of determination and a lot of conviction in penalty shoot-outs it's not by chance. Our boys really wanted it and that's why they were able to put away all five", and defended Marco Materazzi while France manager Raymond Domenech defended Zinedine Zidane and lamented the loss, saying Materazzi was "the man of the match, not Andrea Pirlo", and that he was "deeply disappointed" as he felt they "deserved the title based over the whole match".Lippi: 'Una gioia immensa' https://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2006/Primo_Piano/2006/07_Luglio/09/lippi.shtml La Gazzetta dello Sport 9 July 2006 26 June 2026 itDomenech laments loss https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2006/7/9/domenech-laments-loss Al Jazeera 9 July 2006 26 June 2026Reaction to Zidane's sending off http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/france/5152728.stm BBC Sport 10 July 2006 26 June 2026 After winning the World Cup, Lippi also stated that this was his "most satisfying moment as a coach", even after winning the Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Champions League with Juventus.Evans Simon 10 July 2006 http://www.tiscali.co.uk/news/newswire.php/news/reuters/2006/07/10/sport/my-most-satisfying-moment-lippi.html My most satisfying moment – Lippi 28 June 2026 Reuters dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090204184842/http://www.tiscali.co.uk/news/newswire.php/news/reuters/2006/07/10/sport/my-most-satisfying-moment-lippi.html 4 February 2009 Tiscali News Three days after the final, Lippi did not renew his expiring contract with the FIGC and left his office as manager of Italy, citing insults to himself and his son.Licari Fabio 12 July 2006 https://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2006/Primo_Piano/2006/07_Luglio/12/lippilascia.shtml Lippi dice basta. Ecco perché La Gazzetta dello Sport it 28 June 2026 He was succeeded by Roberto Donadoni.http://www.repubblica.it/2006/07/sezioni/sport/calcio/donadoni-nuovo-ct/donadoni-nuovo-ct/donadoni-nuovo-ct.html Nazionale, scelto l'erede di Lippi Donadoni è il nuovo ct degli azzurri it La Repubblica 13 July 2006 28 June 2026 On 14 July, five days after the final, the FIGC's Federal Commission of Appeal (despite this name, it was controversially used as a first-instance court), led by Cesare Ruperto, issued the first Calciopoli sentence that relegated Fiorentina, Lazio, and Juventus to Serie B.Tesone Luca Rinelli Fabrizio 12 December 2018 9 luglio 2006, Italia Campione del Mondo: retroscena e momenti chiave di un Mondiale indimenticabile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v0KS8AxnK4 video Fanpage.it it 30 June 2026 YouTube6 January 2019 Storie di calcio 2005-2006: 91 punti cancellati da Calciopoli https://radioblackandwhite1897.wordpress.com/2019/01/06/storie-di-calcio-2005-2006-91-punti-cancellati-da-calciopoli/ Radio Black and White 1897 it 30 June 2026Garbo Daniele 8 July 2020 16 anni dopo: era tutto vero. Campioni del mondo! https://www.allonsanfan.it/2020/07/08/mondiale-2006-italia-campione/ Allonsanfàn it 30 June 2026 On 25 July, the FIGC's Federal Court (acting as the appeal court), led by Piero Sandulli, saved all clubs but Juventus from relegation, explicitily and controversially citing "people's feelings" in the sentence, claiming that is what the people wanted. Italy and France met again in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying, where the Azzurri had to concede a 3–1 defeat in Paris before drawing 0–0 in Milan. Before ultimately losing out in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Spain in a penalty shoot-out, Italy beat France 2–0 in the group stage in what was their first win against France without extra time since their victory (2–1) during the group stage of the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. Blatter controversy FIFA president Sepp Blatter generated significant controversy by breaking from tradition and refusing to attend the post-match trophy ceremony.https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2006/07/12/2003318491 World Cup: Press mystified by Blatter's absence at medal ceremony Taipei Times 12 July 2006 26 June 2026https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/blatter-apologizes-to-italy-over-world-cup-snub-1.692402 Blatter apologizes to Italy over World Cup snub CBC Sports 8 January 2007 26 June 2026https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/2017/10/04/blatter-intervista-l-italia-non-mi-ama Blatter: 'L'Italia non mi ama? Perché non la premiai nel 2006. Ho sbagliato' Sky Sport 4 October 2017 it 26 June 2026 Instead of personally presenting the World Cup trophy to the victorious Italy national football team, Blatter left the pitch before the presentation. Blatter's absence from the crowning of the world champions drew heavy criticism from Italian sports figures and media outlets.https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/blatter-misquoted-over-italy-world-cup-apology-20061031-gdopzi.html Blatter 'misquoted' over Italy World Cup apology The Sydney Morning Herald 31 October 2006 26 June 2026 Blatter gave various versions to explain his reasons.8 January 2007 Blatter: 'Ecco perché non ho premiato l'Italia' https://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Sport/2007/01_Gennaio/08/blatter.html Corriere della Sera it 30 June 2026Celeste Emanuele 8 June 2013 Blatter esce allo scoperto: 'Ecco perché non premiai l'Italia campione del mondo', ma si contraddice https://www.soccermagazine.it/nazionali/blatter-esce-allo-scoperto-ecco-perche-non-premiai-litalia-campione-del-mondo-ma-si-contraddice-121745/ Soccer Magazine it 30 June 20265 June 2015 Blatter contro il resto del mondo: l'attacco all'Italia e i Mondiali comprati dalla Germania https://www.sportreview.it/storie-di-calcio/blatter-contro-resto-mondo-italia SportReview it 30 June 2026 To justify this decision, he initially explained that he had decided to let European confederation officials present the awards to the two finalists since both national teams were from Europe; he later changed his version, claiming he made the choice because the entire stadium had booed and insulted him on the opening day of the tournament (9 June in Munich).12 July 2006 Parla il presidente Blatter: 'Fifa, Zidane rischia il premio' http://www.repubblica.it/2006/07/speciale/mondiali/servizi/parla-blatter/parla-blatter/parla-blatter.html La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 As eight Juventus players were involved in the final and as he grew significantly under scrutiny for his criticism and statements about Italy, Blatter explained that the reason he did not attend Italy's celebration ceremony had nothing to do with Calciopoli and elaborated, "I have spoken well of Italy: they deserved the World Cup, the players reacted brilliantly to demonstrate that 'Calciopoli' involved the directors and not them. This is definitive."Licari Fabio 3 November 2006 Blatter: 'Non ce l'ho con l'Italia' https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Altro_Calcio/Primo_Piano/2006/11_Novembre/03/blatter.shtml La Gazzetta dello Sport it 30 June 2026 Nonetheless, Juventus supporters in particular critisised him, citing his close friendship with Walter Gagg (head of the FIFA Stadiums Committee), who was in turn close with the then Inter Milan chairman Giacinto Facchetti (as discovered in the Calciopoli wiretaps),25 May 2010 L'informativa che non c'è https://download.ju29ro.com/files/L'informativa_che_non_c'e'.pdf Ju29ro.com it 30 June 2026 as well as his December 2007 statements to Italy's leading news agency ANSA. Blatter praised and personally thanked Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, who had ties to the then Inter Milan owner Marco Tronchetti Provera,9 February 2007 Io do una cosa a te, tu ne dai una a me? http://blog.ju29ro.com/2007/11/io-do-una-cosa-te-tu-ne-dai-una-me.html Ju29ro.com it 30 June 2026 Citing as sources the 9 February 2007 edition of Il Sole 24 Ore and an 8 November 2007 article by ANSA. for his role as mediator when the scandal broke out, having convinced Juventus (which suffered threats that Italy be excluded from international competitions) to not turn to the ordinary courts after the sanctions resulting from the scandal, which could have cleared the club's name but at the cost of Italy having to miss the World Cup or causing other issues to Italian football, which would have had to postpone the subsequent league season.5 December 2007 Blatter incastra Montezemolo http://blog.ju29ro.com/2007/12/blatter-incastra-montezemolo.html Ju29ro Blog it 30 June 202617 February 2018 Penta: la mia Calciopoli (parte terza) https://ilcalcioeugualepertutti.wordpress.com/2018/02/17/penta-la-mia-calciopoli-parte-terza/ Il calcio è uguale per tutti it 30 June 2026 Moreover, Blatter found himself at the centre of further controversy following comments against the Azzurri, who he claimed were undeserving of the world title because they had qualified for the quarter-finals only due to what he deemed a generous penalty against Australia.Mangini Claudio 8 June 2014 2006: quello slalom di Grosso abbattuto in area, e l'Italia decollò http://www.ilsecoloxix.it/p/sport/2014/06/08/ARrN5Yd-abbattuto_decollo_grosso.shtml Il Secolo XIX it 30 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20180110234038/http://www.ilsecoloxix.it/p/sport/2014/06/08/ARrN5Yd-abbattuto_decollo_grosso.shtml 10 January 2018 deadMiller Nick 5 December 2014 Golden goal: Fabio Grosso for Italy v Germany (2006) https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/dec/05/sp-golden-goal-fabio-grosso-italy-germany-2006 The Guardian 30 June 2026 Gigi Riva, Italy's former player and the then FIGC deputy commissioner, had called on Blatter to undergo a CT scan and respect Italy.29 October 2006 Blatter contro la Nazionale https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/Primo_Piano/2006/10_Ottobre/29/blatter.shtml La Gazzetta dello Sport it 30 June 2026Mazzone Elisa 23 December 2011 Blatter: 'L'Italia campione del mondo fu un errore' https://www.ilgiornale.it/news/blatter-italia-campione-mondo-errore.html Il Giornale it 30 June 2026 Shortly afterward, Blatter backed down and apologised for his remarks.30 October 2006 Italia mondiale, Blatter fa marcia indietro e Fiorello lo perseguita sul cellulare http://www.repubblica.it/2006/10/sezioni/sport/calcio/blatter-mondiali/blatter-mondiali/blatter-mondiali.html La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 In January 2007, Blatter made an official visit to Rome and issued a formal apology to the FIGC.https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/Primo_Piano/2007/01_Gennaio/08/blatter.shtml Blatter: 'Mancata premiazione? Un errore' La Gazzetta dello Sport 8 January 2007 it 26 June 2026https://timesofmalta.com/article/blatter-apologises-to-italy-for-world-cup-snub.30213 Blatter apologises to Italy for World Cup snub Times of Malta 8 January 2007 26 June 2026 He admitted that his absence in Berlin was "an error", explaining that he had initially planned to skip the presentation beforehand to avoid an "ugly scene" and public jeering from the German crowd toward FIFA. In September 2008, Blatter finally delivered the trophy to Cannavaro upon the latter's request, as well as the FIFA badge.2 September 2008 Pace fatta tra Blatter e l'Italia: consegna la Coppa a Cannavaro https://sport.sky.it/calcio/2008/09/02/blatter_consegna_coppa_a_cannavaro Sky Sport Italia it 30 June 2026 In 2013, Blatter described the tense aftermath in Germany as a personal "hell", maintaining that his decision was solely intended to shelter the award ceremony from political whistling.https://www.corriere.it/sport/13_giugno_07/germania-2006-blatter-non-premiai-italia-campione-mondo-inferno_bdc27996-cf93-11e2-b6a8-ee7758ca2279.shtml Germania 2006, Blatter: «Non premiai l'Italia campione del mondo. Fu un inferno» Corriere della Sera 7 June 2013 it 26 June 2026 In July 2012, Blatter had also alleged that the assignation of the 2006 World Cup to Germany had been bought.Vendemiale Lorenzo 16 July 2012 Blatter: 'Assegnazione dei Mondiali 2006 alla Germania fu comprata' https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2012/07/16/blatter-assegnazione-dei-mondiali-2006-alla-germania-fu-comprata/295782/ Il Fatto Quotidiano it 30 June 2026 Zidane–Materazzi incident FIFA sanctions thumb|500px|A sequence showing Zinedine Zidane headbutting Marco Materazzi and being sent off Zidane's headbutt on Materazzi during extra time sparked controversy and a major media impact.Toussaint Jean-Philippe 2006 https://books.google.com/books?id=UhIsAQAAIAAJ La mélancolie de Zidane Paris Les Éditions de Minuit fr 5 978-2-7073-1999-9 2 July 2026 Google BooksBaetens Franck November 2006 https://shs.cairn.info/revue-esprit-2006-11-page-127 Le coup de tête de Zidane: Pour une lecture mythologique Esprit 11 127–147 10.3917/espri.0611.0127 2 July 2026 Cairn.infoManghi Sergio 2007 https://books.google.it/books/about/Zidane_Anatomia_di_una_testata_mondiale.html?id=54KIGQAACAAJ Zidane. Anatomia di una testata mondiale Troina Città Aperta it 5 978-88-8137-287-4 2 July 2026 Google Books On 11 July, FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings to investigate the incident and also affirmed the legality of Elizondo's decision to send Zidane off, rejecting claims that Cantalejo had illegally relied on video transmission to make a decision about handling Zidane's misconduct.11 July 2006 FIFA to review dramatic World Cup final FIFA https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/media/newsid=13829.html 11 June 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100614214137/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/media/newsid%3D13829.html 14 June 2010 dead Regarding the incident, after conducting an investigation and confirming the absence of racial slurs, FIFA issued a CHF 5,000 fine and a two-match ban against Materazzi, while Zidane received a three-match ban and a CHF 7,500 fine,20 July 2006 Sentenza FIFA sul caso Zidane: tre turni al francese, due a Materazzi http://www.repubblica.it/2006/07/sezioni/sport/calcio/sentenza-fifa/sentenza-fifa/sentenza-fifa.html La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 respectively equivalent to €3,183 and €4,774.20 July 2006 La Fifa punisce Zidane e anche Materazzi https://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Sport/2006/07_Luglio/20/zidane.shtml Corriere della Sera it 30 June 2026 Since Zidane had already retired, he voluntarily served three days of community service on FIFA's behalf as a substitute for the match ban.Bose Mihir 21 July 2006 Zidane case sets disciplinary precedent https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/2341128/Zidane-case-sets-disciplinary-precedent.html live 7 December 2013 The Daily Telegraph https://web.archive.org/web/20251109153123/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/2341128/Zidane-case-sets-disciplinary-precedent.html 9 November 2025Hughes Rob 21 July 2006 Suspensions in World Cup Head-Butting Incident https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/21/sports/soccer/21soccer.html live 21 June 2024 The New York Times https://web.archive.org/web/20250828034848/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/21/sports/soccer/21soccer.html 28 August 2025 Zidane and Materazzi's views On 12 July, in an interview broadcast on French television, Zidane publicly apologised for his violent act and revealed that his reaction was not triggered by racist abuse but rather by severe and repeated insults directed by the Italian defender toward his family.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/france/5174758.stm Zidane explains BBC Sport 12 July 2006 2 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20070222213506/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/france/5174758.stm 22 February 2007 live Zidane only partly explained that repeated harsh maternal insults had caused him to react.Hughes Matt 11 July 2006 https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/read-my-lips-the-taunt-that-made-zidane-snap-nrkvdh8zfkx Read my lips: the taunt that made Zidane snap The Times London 11 July 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20140115070510/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/international/article1747603.ece 15 January 2014 live Materazzi admitted trash talking Zidane, but argued that Zidane's behaviour had been very arrogant and that the remarks were trivial.http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=373706&cc=5901 Materazzi admits to insulting Zidane ESPN SoccerNet 11 July 2006 2 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20140115071331/http://espnfc.com/news/story?id=373706&cc=5901 15 January 2014 dead Materazzi also insisted that he did not insult Zidane's mother (who was ill at the time), saying, "I didn't talk about his mother, either. I lost my mother when I was fifteen, and even now I still get emotional talking about it."http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=373767&cc=5901 Zidane: Materazzi insulted my family ESPN SoccerNet 12 July 2006 2 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20140115072215/http://espnfc.com/news/story?id=373767&cc=5901 15 January 2014 deadMcCourt Ian 25 March 2018 World Cup stunning moments: Zinedine Zidane's head-butt https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/mar/11/world-cup-moments-zinedine-zidane-head-butt The Guardian 30 June 2026 thumb|Marco Materazzi in July 2006 In his first interview, Zidane said that he did not regret his actions because "it would be like admitting that he was right to say all that". According to the BBC, Materazzi said, "I wish an ugly death to you and all your family", and then told Zidane to "go fuck yourself". SOS Racisme, a Paris-based anti-racism group, said that "several very well informed sources" had suggested Materazzi called Zidane a "dirty terrorist".11 July 2006 Lip-reader reveals what riled Zidane https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jul/11/worldcup2006.sport6 The Guardian 1 July 2026 Materazzi offered his version of events two months later, stating that after he had grabbed Zidane's jersey, Zidane remarked, "If you want my shirt, I will give it to you afterwards", and he replied to Zidane that he would prefer his sister, but said during the interview that he was unaware Zidane even had a sister.Materazzi reveals details of Zidane World Cup slur Reuters 5 September 2006 http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=378084&cc=5901 2 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20090405025125/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=378084&cc=5901 5 April 2009 dead6 September 2006 Materazzi on Zidane's 2006 World Cup headbutt: 'I mentioned his sister' https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37479167/mentioned-sister ESPN on Soccer 1 July 2026Fifield Dominic 6 September 2006 Materazzi reveals what he said to Zidane on eve of final rerun https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/sep/06/newsstory.sport7 The Guardian 1 July 2026 After video evidence suggested that Materazzi had verbally provoked Zidane into the headbutt, several British tabloids, such as the Daily Mail,Brook Stephen 3 November 2008 Mail pays libel damages over racism claims https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/nov/04/daily-mail-materazzi-racism-libel The Guardian 28 June 2026Phillips Jane 4 November 2008 Materazzi accepts damages from British newspaper https://www.brecorder.com/news/3569496/materazzi-accepts-damages-from-british-newspaper-20081104830770 Business Recorder 28 June 2026 the Daily Star,3 April 2008 Materazzi wins apology over Zidane headbutt claims https://www.si.com/soccer/2008/04/03/materazzi-apology Sports Illustrated 28 June 20268 April 2008 'Daily Star' settles suit with Marco Materazzi https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2008/04/08/2003408653 Taipei Times 28 June 2026 and The Sun,Heffer Steven 5 February 2009 Materazzi wins damages against UK paper https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-02-06/materazzi-wins-damages-against-uk-paper/285496 ABC News 28 June 2026 claimed to have hired lip readers to determine what Materazzi had said, with all three newspapers alleging that Materazzi called Zidane "the son of a terrorist whore".16 March 2008 https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7281881.stm Materazzi wins Daily Star apology BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20090112083757/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7281881.stm 12 January 2009 live9 June 2008 Sun apologises to Marco Materazzi over 'racist' slur Press Gazette 21 January 2020 https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/sun-apologises-to-marco-materazzi-over-racist-slur/ 14 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210714202324/https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/sun-apologises-to-marco-materazzi-over-racist-slur/ live Materazzi disputed this claim, eventually winning public apologies, statements read in open court, and libel damages from all three newspapers in 2008 and 2009.Gibb Frances 25 November 2008 In the city: How to say sorry https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/in-the-city-how-to-say-sorry-d6cz7xf37p3 The Times 28 June 2026Sharrock David 6 February 2009 Materazzi wins British libel damages over Sun's claims about Zidane head-butt https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/feb/06/marco-materazzi-zinedine-zidane-the-sun-libel live https://web.archive.org/web/20110313163651/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/feb/06/marco-materazzi-zinedine-zidane-the-sun-libel 13 March 2011 The Guardian 9 February 20096 February 2009 Materazzi wins libel damages against British tabloid https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/materazzi-wins-libel-damages-against-british-tabloid-1.851208 CBC Sports 28 June 2026 In late 2006, Materazzi released a book titled What I Really Told Zidane, which contained 250 versions of what he had said to Zidane, including three curses from the Harry Potter series,9 July 2019 One Shot: Zidane's famous headbutt in 2006 World Cup final https://sport.mediamax.am/en/news/one-shot/34149 Mediamax Sport 30 June 2026 as well as "Zidane, what are you doing? You haven't lost yet and already you've ripped your hair out", "Since Foucault died, French philosophy has sucked", and "Where exactly is the sternum?"25 October 2006 Materazzi's book: 'What I really told Zidane' Soccer Leagues In August 2007, Materazzi stated that he had insulted the French playmaker's sister, prompting Zidane's violent reaction.18 August 2007 Materazzi-Zidane, mistero svelato http://www.repubblica.it/2007/08/sezioni/sport/calcio/frase-materazzi/frase-materazzi/frase-materazzi.html La Repubblica it 30 June 2026 Over a year after the incident, Materazzi also confirmed that his precise words to Zidane were: "I prefer the whore that is your sister."https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/aug/18/newsstory.sport2 And Materazzi's exact words to Zidane were... The Guardian London 18 August 2007 18 March 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20070821090226/http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0%2C%2C2151641%2C00.html 21 August 2007 live In his 2021 memoirs, it was rendered in English as "I'd prefer you brought me your sister, that bitch."16 August 2021 Materazzi reveals what he really told Zidane https://www.unisport.dk/stories/2090-materazzi-reveals-what-he-really-told-zidane/ Unisport 1 July 2026 In October 2009, in an interview conducted on French radio station RTL, Zidane stated: "Let's not forget that provocation is a terrible thing. I have never been one to provoke; I have never done it. It's terrible, and it is best not to react."Zidane : 'C'était trop fort' L'Équipe fr 12 October 2009 https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2009/20091012_220259_zidane-2006-c-etait-trop-fort.html 12 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091013110223/http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2009/20091012_220259_zidane-2006-c-etait-trop-fort.html 13 October 2009 dead In a later interview with Esquire magazine, he said, "If you look at the 14 red cards I had in my career, 12 of them were a result of provocation. This isn't justification, this isn't an excuse, but my passion, temper and blood made me react."Pomroy Matt 6 July 2014 Zinedine Zidane http://www.esquireme.com/zinedine-zidane/ Esquire Middle East 16 April 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150416133836/http://www.esquireme.com/zinedine-zidane/ 16 April 2015 The same interview also appeared in the May 2012 issue of Esquire España. In December 2009 and March 2010 interviews, Zidane had said that he would "rather die than apologise" to Materazzi for the headbutt in the final,1 March 2010 Zinedine Zidane says he would 'rather die' than apologise to Marco Materazzi https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/mar/01/zinedine-zidane-marco-materazzi-headbutt The Guardian 1 July 2026http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/749212/ce/uk/?cc=5739&ver=global Zidane: I'd 'rather die' than say sorry 1 March 2010 ESPN SoccerNet 1 March 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100304145802/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/749212/ce/uk/?cc=5739&ver=global 4 March 2010 dead but also admitted that he "could never have lived with himself" had he been allowed to remain on the pitch and help France win the match.https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/zidane-glad-head-butt-was-punished-in-world-cup-final-idUSTRE5BL17M/ Zidane glad head-butt was punished in World Cup final Reuters 22 December 2009 28 June 2026https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/zidane-happy-that-he-was-sent-off-1.794822 Zidane happy that he was sent off The Irish Times 22 December 2009 28 June 202622 December 2009 http://ww38.momento24.com/en/2009/12/22/zidane-is-glad-he-was-sent-off-in-the-2006-world-cup-final/comment-page-1/ Zidane is glad he was sent off in 2006 World Cup final ww38.momento24.com 19 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20190803202919/http://ww38.momento24.com/en/2009/12/22/zidane-is-glad-he-was-sent-off-in-the-2006-world-cup-final/comment-page-1/ 3 August 2019 deadJune 2026 In a January 2010 interview with the Italian newspaper la Repubblica, Materazzi said that both the headbutt and Thierry Henry's hand ball against Ireland, an episode known as "Le Hand of Frog" that allowed France to qualify to the 2010 World Cup, showed the "disgusting" side of football.https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/sports/soccer/05sportsbriefs-materazzi.html Head Butt By Zidane Still Angers Materazzi The New York Times 4 January 2010 26 June 2026 live https://web.archive.org/web/20100111105149/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/sports/soccer/05sportsbriefs-materazzi.html 11 January 2010 In a December 2009 interview with France Football magazine, Zidane thought that there had been an over-reaction to Henry's hand ball episode. In April 2024, Materazzi recalled, "I don't like it, because it doesn't do justice to what my career was. That episode should never have happened. In the tension of that final in Berlin, amidst the bickering and insults, Zidane offered me his shirt, and I said no, that I preferred his sister. Then he turned around and reacted as everyone remembers. I never saw Zinedine again."1 April 2024 Materazzi: 'La testata di Zidane? Non doveva succedere. Non l'ho mai più rivisto' https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/01-04-2024/materazzi-la-testata-di-zidane-non-doveva-succedere-non-l-ho-mai-piu-rivisto.shtml La Gazzetta dello Sport it 30 June 2026 Criticism of Zidane and philosophical analysis On 10 July, despite his violent gesture during the final and his verbal confrontation with referee Jorge Larrionda during the semi-final against Portugal,Doyle Paul 20 July 2006 Selfish Zidane has fooled Fifa https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jul/20/newsstory.sport7 The Guardian 30 June 202614 July 2006 Zidane y Materazzi tendrán otro round https://www.eluniverso.com/2006/07/14/0001/15/A0B3E4FAC947499BB9B80C8776E421A5.html El Universo es 30 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20180509094922/https://www.eluniverso.com/2006/07/14/0001/15/A0B3E4FAC947499BB9B80C8776E421A5.html 9 May 2018 dead Zidane was nevertheless elected the best player of the World Cup tournament; this sparked controversy regarding an award that for critics seemed to have been "won from the start" for sponsorship reasons, particularly because Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo had been named Man of the Match three times (two more than Zidane) during the tournament.10 July 2006 Mondiali: Zidane miglior giocatore http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/mondiali/articoli/articolo318100.shtml TGcom24 it 30 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20131019131307/http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/mondiali/articoli/articolo318100.shtml 19 October 2013 dead Notably, after the final, President Jacques Chirac hailed Zidane as a "man of heart and conviction".Boyle Jon 9 July 2006 https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/09/AR2006070900550.html French fans praise Zidane despite red card The Washington Post 11 July 2006June 2021 medicmedicRichard Arnaud July 2007 Zinedine Zidane: More Than a Mythological Figure, A Prophet Congrès International de ISHPES et de l'ISSA: Sport in a Global World: Past, Present and Future Copenhague https://hal.science hal-00331225v1 25 June 2026 Chirac defended Zidane against critics by saying that "France loves Zidane", further elaborating: "You are a virtuoso, a genius of world football. You are also a man of heart, commitment, and conviction. That is why France admires and loves you."10 July 2006 Chirac: 'La Francia ama Zidane' http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Mondiale_2006/Primo_Piano/2006/07_Luglio/10/chirac.shtml La Gazzetta dello Sport it 30 June 2026 Chirac later added that he found the offence to be unacceptable, but he understood that Zidane had been provoked.http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13857671/ https://archive.today/20120712133912/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13857671/ dead 12 July 2012 Chirac calls Zidane head-butt 'unacceptable' MSNBC 14 July 2006 18 March 2008 The French public showed support for Zidane's actions; polls done in the immediate wake of the incident showed 61% of French people said they had already forgiven him for his actions while 52% said they understood them.https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/mar/11/world-cup-moments-zinedine-zidane-head-butt World Cup: 25 stunning moments ... No5: Zinedine Zidane's head-butt https://web.archive.org/web/20201118143748/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/mar/11/world-cup-moments-zinedine-zidane-head-butt 18 November 2020 The Guardian London 16 May 2013 France manager Raymond Domenech said it was "sad to see him finish like this", saying that Zidane had been "the protagonist of a great career and an excellent World Cup". He added, "When a player has to endure what he endured for so many minutes, without the referee taking action, what happened is understandable. It is not excusable, but it is understandable."11 November 2022 Coppa del Mondo 2006: il canto del cigno di Zidane https://www.fifa.com/it/articles/coppa-del-mondo-2006-il-canto-del-cigno-di-zidane FIFA it 30 June 2026 The French press was not as forgiving of its champion; for the French sports newspaper L'Équipe, Zidane's gesture was far more serious than the defeat of the Bleus. The sports daily wrote, addressing the French captain, "This morning, the hardest part is not trying to understand why the Bleus lost a World Cup final within their grasp, but explaining to tens of millions of children around the world how you could let yourself strike that headbutt at Materazzi." Moreover, the French newspaper Le Figaro called the headbutt "odious" and "unacceptable".http://www.utvlive.com/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=32550&pt=s French media condemns Zidane UTV 11 July 2006 18 March 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080225053701/http://www.utvlive.com/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=32550&pt=s 25 February 2008 dead Time magazine regarded the incident as a symbol for Europe's "grappling with multi-culturalism".Karon Tony 13 July 2006 http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1213502,00.html The Head Butt Furore: A Window on Europe's Identity Crisis Time 18 March 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080603154512/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1213502,00.html 3 June 2008 dead Despite the ongoing furore, Zidane's sponsors announced that they would stick with him.https://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2006-07-11-zidane-ads_x.htm Sponsors stick with Zidane despite head-butt USA Today 11 July 2006 18 March 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080222023117/http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2006-07-11-zidane-ads_x.htm 22 February 2008 live Zidane's headbutt was analysed philosophically, leading to a body of mythological literature. The Belgian writer and filmmaker Jean-Philippe Toussaint, who was present at the stadium in Berlin during the final, focused particularly on Zidane's melancholy, writing that "it is my melancholy, I know it, I have nurtured it, I feel it."Toussaint Jean-Philippe 2006 https://books.google.com/books?id=UhIsAQAAIAAJ La mélancolie de Zidane Paris Les Éditions de Minuit fr 15 978-2-7073-1999-9 2 July 2026 Google Books For Toussaint, the headbutt was a creative surge from the artist faced with the looming risk of failure, a "calligraphic gesture", and a stroke of genius that projected the artist Zidane out of and beyond the game of football, turning an imminent defeat into a victory. Toussaint wrote that although he was unable to "score a goal", Zidane "will score minds".Toussaint Jean-Philippe 2006 https://books.google.com/books?id=UhIsAQAAIAAJ La Mélancolie de Zidane Paris Les Éditions de Minuit fr 17 978-2-7073-1999-9 For the French sociologist and philosopher Jean Baudrillard, the gesture constituted an act of "sabotage", a "terrorist" act—meant in quotation marks—against the homogenising dominance of globalisation. According to Baudrillard, with that gesture, Zidane allegedly refused to seal the nothingness staged by the "planetary identification ritual" that celebrated the ideology of globalisation as the supreme good through the media that night.Baudrillard Jean 2008 Le mal ventriloque https://books.google.com/books?id=4PQkAQAAIAAJ Carnaval et cannibale. Suivi de Le Mal ventriloque Paris L'Herne fr 94 978-2-85197-862-2 2 July 2026 Google Books Professor Franck Baetens wrote that Zidane's headbutt ultimately did not deny but rather recomposed the symbolic universe in which it takes place, arguing that "the 'footballer's' final gesture ... , far from shattering the myth, actually fulfills it." In December 2009, major international media outlets ranked the incident at the top of the most iconic sporting moments of the 2000s; Reuters placed the headbutt at the top of the sports episodes of the decade and included the photograph of the incident in its retrospective of the 100 pictures that defined the decade, labeling it as "the headbutt of the decade". While The Guardian labeled it the single most iconic act of sporting villainy of the decade, Reuters highlighted it as a defining event that shaped the sports retrospectives of the 2000s. In popular culture As it was ultimately watched by billions of people,Brotman Barbara 16 July 2006 Headbutt is a longtime, if primitive, male tradition https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/07/16/headbutt-is-a-longtime-if-primitive-male-tradition/ dead Chicago Tribune 26 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260625230938/https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/07/16/headbutt-is-a-longtime-if-primitive-male-tradition/ 25 June 2026 with numerous analyses by the media,https://www.npr.org/2006/07/15/5559572/why-did-zidane-lose-his-cool Why Did Zidane Lose His Cool? Scott Simon NPR 15 July 2006 26 June 2026https://www.popmatters.com/060718-zinedine-zidane-2496108461.html Z/Z: The Headbutt Buzz PopMatters 18 July 2006 26 June 2026Schoon Eric Oatley Thomas Headlining the head-butt: Zinedine Zidane/Marco Materazzi portrayals in prominent English, Irish, and Scottish newspapers https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240707946_Headlining_the_head-butt_Zinedine_ZidaneMarco_Materazzi_portrayals_in_prominent_English_Irish_and_Scottish_newspapers Media, Culture & Society 1 May 2011 33 4 579–595 10.1177/0163443711398903 26 June 2026 the incident was extensively lampooned on the Internet and in popular culture.Noveck Jocelyn 13 July 2006 Zidane's headbutt is all the rage in cyberspace https://mg.co.za/news/sport/2006-07-13-zidane-s-headbutt-is-all-the-rage-in-cyberspace/ Mail & Guardian 26 June 2026 Family Guy parodied it in the episode "Saving Private Brian", in which Zidane headbutts an old lady while delivering her a birthday cake.Davies Amanda 27 September 2012 'Ode to defeat': Zidane headbutt immortalized in bronze statue https://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/27/sport/football/zidane-head-butt-statue-football CNN 26 June 2026Sunderland Tom 21 April 2015 Ronaldo and 10 Other Footballers Who Have Made It on Screen https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2433855-ronaldo-and-10-other-footballers-who-have-made-it-on-screen Bleacher Report 26 June 2026 The Simpsons parodied it in the episode "Marge Gamer", in which Homer Simpson shouts "Zidane!" when headbutting the linesman,Marge Gamer The Simpsons Written by J. Stewart Burns; directed by Bob Anderson Fox Los Angeles 18 17 01:21 JABF10 22 April 2007 an episode that also saw a cameo from Brazil's Ronaldo. As of December 2009, "Zinedine Zidane headbutt" was a common Google Search inquiry when typing his name. In addition to becoming a staple of parody via numerous online videos and GIFs,The new (head-)butt of Internet jokes https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna13834112 NBC News 12 July 2006 26 June 2026 as well as T-shirts, video games, and books, a novelty song titled "Coup de Boule" (French for "headbutt") reached the top of the French charts.Arendt Paul 1 August 2006 https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/aug/01/1 Zidane headbutt single storms the French charts The Guardian 26 June 2026Zidane's head-butt song tops French charts http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200608/s1703710.htm ABC News Australia 2 August 2006 6 September 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20090306114810/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200608/s1703710.htm 6 March 2009 live Headbutt (fr Coup de tête no), a sculpture of the incident, was unveiled in 2012.Zinedine Zidane headbutt statue unveiled in Paris http://www.france24.com/en/20120926-france-art-football-world-cup-2006-zidane-headbutt-statue-paris-pompidou-centre/ France 24 26 September 2012 5 January 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140105223252/http://www.france24.com/en/20120926-france-art-football-world-cup-2006-zidane-headbutt-statue-paris-pompidou-centre/ 5 January 2014 dead Besides the headbutt, books about the final or to celebrate Italy's triumph continue to be written 20 years after the events, such as Gli ultimi campioni. Il romanzo dei mondiali 2006, written by Luigi Garlando and published by Turin's UTET.4 November 2022 I migliori libri sul calcio e sui Mondiali (da leggere e regalare) https://www.illibraio.it/liste-di-libri/libri-calcio-mondiali/ IlLibraio.it it 30 June 2026 See also France at the FIFA World Cup Italy at the FIFA World Cup Juventus FC and the Italy national football team Notes nb References Match reports Report External links Italy v France | 2006 FIFA World Cup Final | Full Match French fans praise Zidane despite red card — 2006 FIFA World Cup final Association football France Germany Italy Final Category:2006 in Berlin Category:FIFA World Cup finals Category:Football finals in Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup final FIFA World Cup 2006 Category:France national football team matches Category:Italy national football team matches Category:July 2006 sports events in Germany Category:Men's international association football finals in Europe