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Final - July 9 / Olympiastadion, Berlin 
 
Italy 1 - 1 France aet 

Italy win 6-4 on penalties 

Zidane pen 7 (F), Materazzi 19 (I)

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Fabio Grosso scored the last penalty as Italy won the World Cup on penalties! It ended 1-1 with France after Zinedine Zidane's astonishing red-card for headbutting Marco Materazzi.

The Azzurri have reached the Final every 12 years since 1970 and came face to face with a French side they hadn't beaten since 1978 - curiously that was the last time they were defeated in 90 minutes in the World Cup. Francesco Totti and his teammates were eager to avenge their Golden Goal Final loss to Les Bleus from Euro 2000.

Both teams maintained the same line-ups they had in the semi-finals and there were emotions all around: Zinedine Zidane's last match in a glittering career and Fabio Cannavaro's 100th cap, second only to Dino Zoff and Paolo Maldini in the record books. Alessandro Nesta was injured and Louis Saha suspended, but Daniele De Rossi was again available after a four-match ban.

Thierry Henry accidentally clattered into Cannavaro in the opening minute. It didn't seem to be a particularly hard collision, but the former Juventus man fell awkwardly and seemed dazed, but was able to continue after treatment.

Gianluca Zambrotta was booked for bringing down Patrick Vieira as both ran for the ball just outside the area. It was an extremely tense start and moments later the referee pointed to the area for Marco Materazzi's clumsy challenge on Florent Malouda. There was minimal contact, but he did mis-time his intervention. Ex-Juve star Zidane stepped up and his lobbed penalty hit the bar and bounced back down over the line to give France the lead within the first seven minutes. It was the only the second goal Gigi Buffon had conceded - the first scored by an opponent - and the first time Italy had gone behind in this World Cup.

Materazzi deflected a Willy Sagnol cross just past the near post, then Sagnol went into the book for a late challenge on Fabio Grosso. Andrea Pirlo's free kick was acrobatically cleared by Juve's Lilian Thuram, but a positive Grosso move faltered when the ball bounced and his cross was inevitably too high.

Italy were pouring forward to find an equaliser and it was Materazzi who made up for his earlier error by rising to nod in a Pirlo corner kick from the right. The Inter defender rose above Vieira for a perfect header under the bar, his second goal of Germany 2006.

Henry burst through on Zidane's pass, but was penalised for pushing Zambrotta, then Materazzi intercepted Franck Ribery's dangerous low cross. Francesco Totti was kept quiet by Claude Makelele's attentions and another Materazzi header from a corner caused panic in the French area, but the defender was guilty of pushing.

Henry set up Malouda for what was essentially a soft pass into Buffon's arms, while Simone Perrotta turned his left ankle and was able to continue.

Gennaro Gattuso sparked a great move, combining with Totti and threading through for Luca Toni's shot to be charged down. From the resulting corner on 35 minutes, Toni got in front of Thuram only to see his header smash the crossbar.

Henry ran into the area on Zidane's pass, but Cannavaro showed perfect timing to push the ball off his foot. Barthez had to be alert and clear a poor back-pass before Toni could pounce, as Italy had more of the possession in the first half.

Vieira ran into the box to gather an Henry pass, but Perrotta did well to get back and intercept like a seasoned defender. At the other end, Barthez jumped to take Toni's chipped ball off Perrotta's head.

There were no changes at half-time and within 30 seconds Henry had sprinted through the entire Azzurri defence, but side-footed it straight at Buffon under pressure.

Italy went much closer to a goal, as a corner was taken short and Totti's floated cross found a Cannavaro header closed down. Pirlo and Toni then couldn't squeeze through a sea of legs.

Henry wreaked panic inside the area again and Zambrotta cleared before his pass could reach Malouda from six yards. From the resulting corner, Ribery ballooned well over. Cannavaro kept his cool and blocked Henry with a clear sight of goal as France had a strong start to the second half.

At the other end, Perrotta was crowded out inside the box, but on the counter-attack Malouda was stopped by a Zambrotta tackle and some fairly understandable penalty appeals were rejected.

Malouda was again dangerous with a slide-rule pass back across the face of goal that was behind Henry. Juventus midfielder Vieira pulled up with what appeared to be a thigh strain and had to limp off for Milan transfer target Alou Diarra. It was a heavy blow to the French side, as he had been perhaps their best player until then.

Zidane's attempted right-foot volley from the edge was charged down by Pirlo. Italy needed to make a change and Lippi made two brave moves. Totti's World Cup was over to make way for Vincenzo Iaquinta, while De Rossi returned in place of Roma companion Perrotta.

Seconds later the Azzurri thought they'd taken the lead, but Toni was in an offside position when he nodded in Pirlo's free kick. Henry continued to be the danger man and took on Cannavaro one-on-one, forcing Buffon to palm away his shot.

Toni was fairly isolated, yet still fought past two defenders before his effort was charged down. Cannavaro was exceptional when plucking the ball off Henry's foot and emerging between two French forwards and Buffon rushed out to push away a Zidane free kick. Camoranesi gave the ball away, though Cannavaro's acrobatic clearance rescued the situation.

Diarra was booked for a handling offence and Pirlo's free kick from nearly 20 metres swerved just wide of the near post. Zidane fell awkwardly on to his right shoulder after a battle in the air with Cannavaro, but was able to continue following treatment.

Zambrotta chested a dangerous cross out for a corner before it could reach Zidane, then Materazzi also intercepted Henry's cut-back for the Real Madrid man.

Lippi's final substitution saw Alessandro Del Piero replace Camoranesi, who had been struggling with a calf problem. Zidane attempted to curl in directly from the corner flag, but Pirlo was ready at the near post. Iaquinta ran on to Pirlo's searching pass and was closed down by two defenders. In the final minute, Gattuso swept in front of Zidane to pluck the ball off his foot.

It went to extra time and Gattuso got in front of Malouda, getting an arm in the face for his trouble. Ribery broke through the centre and his low angled drive was inches wide of the far post. It was his final contribution, as 'Scarface' made way for Juventus striker - and Euro 2000 Golden Goal scorer - David Trezeguet.

France had a great chance to restore their lead when Willy Sagnol's cross found Zidane unmarked for a free header on 103 minutes, but Buffon flew for a one-handed save to tip it out from under the crossbar with a spectacular save.

Henry was suffering from cramp and left the field for Sylvain Wiltord - the other man who scored in that Euro 2000 Final.

There was controversy into the second half of extra time, as Zidane headbutted Materazzi in the chest in an off the ball incident. The referee and linesmen did not witness the violent and seemingly irrational gesture, but the fourth official did and Elizondo raised a straight red. It was a horrible end to a fine career for Zizou, but the video images clearly show it was on purpose and the dismissal was inevitable.

Neither side could break through and the World Cup Final was decided on a penalty shoot-out for the first time since 1994 - when Italy lost to Brazil. Andrea Pirlo was first up under the French end of the Olympiastadion and scored high and through the middle. Sylvain Wiltord also netted sending Buffon the wrong way. Marco Materazzi netted with his left foot into the corner and Trezeguet went up against his Juventus teammate and rattled the bar with his penalty. Daniele De Rossi, for so long the villain with a four-match ban, kept his cool to sweep his finish past Fabien Barthez. Abidal converted for France sending Buffon in the other direction. Alessandro Del Piero was up next and also scored to maintain Italy's 100 per cent record after four kicks. Willy Sagnol netted. Fabio Grosso took the last kick and the Palermo defender kept his head to bury it and ensure Italy are the World Champions!

There were some extremely bizarre celebrations on the pitch, as Camoranesi made good on a pledge to cut his hair if they won the World Cup. They put him on a chair and Massimo Oddo chopped off his long locks while the others danced round him in a circle, having evidently seen too many scalping scenes in Cowboy and Indian movies.

Captain Fabio Cannavaro ended a magnificent tournament for him, and marked his 100th cap, by lifting the World Cup trophy into the Berlin sky. ITALIA: CAMPIONI DEL MONDO!!!!
 

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Italy: Buffon; Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Materazzi, Grosso; Camoranesi (Del Piero 86), Gattuso, Pirlo, Perrotta (De Rossi 61); Totti (Iaquinta 61); Toni

France: Bathez; Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Abidal; Vieira (Diarra 56), Makelele; Ribery (Trezeguet 100), Zidane, Malouda; Henry (Wiltord 115)

Ref: Elizondo (Arg)

Sent off: Zidane 110 (F)

Penalty shoot-out: Pirlo scored (I), Wiltord scored (F), Materazzi scored (I), Trezeguet crossbar (F), De Rossi scored (I), Abidal scored (F), Del Piero scored (I), Sagnol scored (F), Grosso scored (I)