Vive Le Italia!
Italy's Azzurri wins 4th FIFA World CupTM
BATTLE OF THE BLUES
9 July 2006 CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
After a 1-1 deadlock at extra time, Italy outscored France in penalty shootout, 5-3, to claim the most precious prize in football - The FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Trophy. Outgoing French team captain Zinedine Zidane made the first goal from a penalty (7') to give his team the lead but Marco Materazzi set an equalizer (19') to even the match. In the end, Italy prevailed in the penalty shootout by putting all five attempts behind the net while France managed to convert only three (David Trezeguet's shot hit the top bar and dropped six inches outside the goal line). Zidane, ejected few minutes before the end of the game after headbutting Materazzi on the chest, failed to find a good way to end his glorious career. Nevertheless, the mediamen voted for him to receive the Adidas™ Golden Ball Award given to the best player of the 2006 Games. Italy's Fabio Cannavaro and Andrea Pirlo collected the Silver Ball and Bronze Ball, respectively.
Italy's goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, won the Lev Yashin Award for being the best shotstopper of the tournament. He outclassed Germany's Oliver Khan, winner of the award in 2002.
8 July 2006 THIRD PLACE MATCH
The Germans redeemed themselves from a dismal semifinal defeat by the Italians with an overwhelming 3-1 victory over the Portuguese to earn the bronze medal at Stuttgart. The host nation, powered by 21-year-old Bastian Schweinsteiger's two second-half goals (56' and 78') and his free kick converted to an own goal (60') by Portugal's Petit, settled for the consolation third place award. Unable to repeat their third place finish in England 1966, the Portuguese still managed to score a goal with a header (88') from Nuño Gomes.
German midfielder Miroslav Klose was awarded with the Adidas™ Golden Shoe for being the tournament's top marksman with five goals in seven matches. Argentine Hernan Crespo and Brazil's Ronaldo bagged the Silver and Bronze Shoe, respectively.
After a 1-1 deadlock at extra time, Italy outscored France in penalty shootout, 5-3, to claim the most precious prize in football - The FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Trophy. Outgoing French team captain Zinedine Zidane made the first goal from a penalty (7') to give his team the lead but Marco Materazzi set an equalizer (19') to even the match. In the end, Italy prevailed in the penalty shootout by putting all five attempts behind the net while France managed to convert only three (David Trezeguet's shot hit the top bar and dropped six inches outside the goal line). Zidane, ejected few minutes before the end of the game after headbutting Materazzi on the chest, failed to find a good way to end his glorious career. Nevertheless, the mediamen voted for him to receive the Adidas™ Golden Ball Award given to the best player of the 2006 Games. Italy's Fabio Cannavaro and Andrea Pirlo collected the Silver Ball and Bronze Ball, respectively.
Italy's goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, won the Lev Yashin Award for being the best shotstopper of the tournament. He outclassed Germany's Oliver Khan, winner of the award in 2002.
8 July 2006 THIRD PLACE MATCH
The Germans redeemed themselves from a dismal semifinal defeat by the Italians with an overwhelming 3-1 victory over the Portuguese to earn the bronze medal at Stuttgart. The host nation, powered by 21-year-old Bastian Schweinsteiger's two second-half goals (56' and 78') and his free kick converted to an own goal (60') by Portugal's Petit, settled for the consolation third place award. Unable to repeat their third place finish in England 1966, the Portuguese still managed to score a goal with a header (88') from Nuño Gomes.
German midfielder Miroslav Klose was awarded with the Adidas™ Golden Shoe for being the tournament's top marksman with five goals in seven matches. Argentine Hernan Crespo and Brazil's Ronaldo bagged the Silver and Bronze Shoe, respectively.
posted by oNiN at 7/10/2006 12:48:00 PM
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