2006: Italy’s Penalty Shootout Triumph in Berlin
The 2006 FIFA World Cup final on July 10th remains etched in football folklore. Held at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, Italy faced France in a match that combined skill, controversy, and sheer drama. Zinedine Zidane opened the scoring for France with a seventh-minute penalty, converting after Marco Materazzi was adjudged to have fouled him . Italy equalized through Materazzi’s header in the 19th minute, setting the stage for a tense battle.
The turning point came in the 110th minute when Zidane, in his final career match, was sent off for headbutting Materazzi, leaving France to play the remainder of extra time with 10 men . The match ended 1-1 after 120 minutes, leading to a penalty shootout. Italy held their nerve, converting all five penalties, while France missed two—most famously David Trezeguet’s effort that hit the crossbar. Fabio Grosso sealed the 5-3 victory, securing Italy’s fourth World Cup title.
This match will forever be remembered for Zidane’s red card, Materazzi’s equalizer, and Italy’s composure under pressure. It marked the end of an era for French legend Zidane and solidified Italy’s reputation as masters of the penalty shootout.
