Sportco FIFA World Cup Flashback: Italy 1-1 France | Lineup | 2006 Final | As it Happened

Italy vs France: 2006 World Cup Final  🏆

The all-European World Cup Final of 2006 is still considered as the most talked-about World Cup final of all-time after Italy beat France 5-3 on penalty shootout. 

The match tough is still remembered for all the wrong reasons as France great Zinedine Zidane bowed out in the most unfortunate manner. 

The France captain, playing in his final career game was sent-off and to date is still considered by many as the turning point of that epic final.

• 4 players who won the 1998 World Cup played in the final of the 2006 World Cup
• 5 Players from Juventus played for Italy, with the hot topic of Match-fixing scandal surrounding the club
• The Olympiastadion in Berlin was used as the venue for the final
• Both teams were unbeaten on their way to the final of the 2006 World Cup

Italy vs France 2006 WC Final: Lineup

Italy (4-3-3-): Gianluigi Buffon; Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi, Fabio Grosso; Mauro Camoranesi, Andrea Pirlo, Simone Perrotta; Francesco Totti, Luca Toni, Gennaro Gattuso

France (3-5-2): Fabien Barthez; Willy Sagnol, Lilian Thuram, William Gallas; Eric Abidal, Patrick Vieira, Claude Makélélé, Franck Ribéry, Zinedine Zidane; Florent Malouda, Thierry Henry

Italy vs France: 2006 Final: As it Happened!

First Half:

The first half saw some of the best entertainment in the final after Florent Malouda earned France a penalty in the first 7 minutes. The penalty was dully converted by Zidane as he gave France the lead. 

However, it took only 12 minutes for Italy to equalize and reach parity. After that the scores remained tight and no goals were scored.

7th Min: French player Florent Malouda went down in the box under contact from Marco Materazzi as Zidane stepped up to convert the penalty to make it Italy 0-1 France.

19th Min: 1-1!! Materazzi redeemed himself for Italy when he leveled the score in the 19th minute; a header from an Andrea Pirlo corner was converted.

35th Min: Luca Toni hits the crossbar with another Pirlo corner working for the Italians.

Half Time: Italy 1-1 France

62nd Min: Luca Toni goal disallowed for offside as Andrea Pirlo took the free kick.

86th Min: Alessandro Del Piero came on Italy as substitute who would later go on to score in the penalty shootout for Italy.

Full Time: The regulation time ends with scores of Italy 1-1 France

Extra Time Begins

104th Min: Buffon tips a Zidane header away from goal, as the ball was bound for a goal.

110th Min: Zidane was sent-off in the most extraordinary manner for head-butting Marco Materazzi and France had to play the rest of the game with 10 minutes

Italy vs France: 2006 Final Penalty Shootout

Final Result: Italy 1-1 France (Italy win 5-3 in Penalty Shootout)

The Italy vs France 2006 World Cup final had the drama and passion, however, in the end, it was Marcelo Lippi's Azzurri who lifted their 4th World Cup in 2006.