World Cup 2006 Winner - Italy

It was a match without too many chances but plenty of incidents ... was watching the match at Chambers Stadium at Robertson Walk ... One of the place which delivers HDTV and it was projected on a screen ... You could really tell the difference between HDTV and normal TV ... It was a "sell-out" crowd though Monday being a working day ... People either took leave ... planned to go late to work ... go as usual but stoned throughout the day ... maybe take MC ... blah blah etc

First half started well ... with both teams not sitting back but trying to get a early goal ... Henry knocked into Cannavaro and was seeing "stars and birdies" going round his head ... early scare for France which was thinking whether he could continue or not ... duly after some treatment he was back ... Malouda burst into the Italian penalty box when a loose ball bounce into his path ... but only for Materazzi to bring him down ... A contentious decision for the referee but he pointed to the spot ... Slow motion replay shows Materazzi's leg might have as retracted at the last moment but Malouda still fell ...


Zizou stepped up ... Buffon's chance of breaking Zenga's record was on the line ... no chance for Buffon as he went the wrong way ... An audacious chip by Zidane saw his kick came bounce against the underside of the crossbar but the ball has crossed the line ... France had taken an early lead ...

Italy pressed on ... keeping posessions and wins a freekick on the right side ... where Thuram heads out for a corner where France cleared but Italy
retained possessions and wins another corner ... Pirlo outswings this one in ... and Materazzi jumps high and powered a header past Barthez ! Italy equalized ! Much to the delight of Lippi ... who knows how important this goal is !

The game is on ... and Italy had the much better passing flow and France had problem dealing with Italy's corners ... Materazzi came close few minutes later but was judged to have foul Vieira ... In another corner in the 36th min, Toni powered his header onto the crossbar and out for a goal kick ... much relieve to the French supporters in the stadium ... France just could not get their attacking pieces flowing together and with the Italian defence standing solid ... It was difficult ...

Second half .... sudden downpour ... not in Berlin but at Robertson Walk ... saw people outside in the open air running for shelters ... some managed to squeeze into areas where they still can watch the match ... Heng I was inside ... :)

France started very well with Henry, Malouda and Ribery all getting into good position on the flanks and byline ... but the last ball was bad ... Henry's pace and twisting and turning was keeeping Canavarro's gang at bay ... Italy just could not get hold of the game ... but in the 56th minute ... Vieira came off due to a hamstring and Alou Diarra came on for him ... Lippi made a double substitution so as to boost the midfield and get a much firmer hold on the game ... Rossi ( lucky lad who served a 4 match suspension and yet played in the final ) came on for Totti and Iaquinta on for Perotta ... Totti was a non-mention and it was as if Italy was playing with 10 men for most of the time ...

Henry forced a good save from Buffon ... Toni has a goal disallowed when he was judged to be offside ... Ribery had a glimpse of Buffon's goal but only to put his shot wide ... Pirlo's freekick was inches away from Barthez's right hand post ... As 90 mins approaching ... France kept piling on the pressure but to no avail as Italy looks dangerous when they roam forward too ... Lippi send on Del Piero for Camoranesi ... Final whistle is blown ... and the teams go into extra time

Extra time was marred by Zidane's moment of madness when he headbutted Materazzi on his chest towards the end of extra time ... The referee missed the incident but it was noted but the linesman ... the Italians was furious when it happened ... Buffon rushing out of his goal ... The referee had no choice but to shown Zizou the red card ... What a way to end your illustrious career ... he has been regarded as one of the greatest player of all time ... a player with immense ability on the ball ... and the positve impact he has on a game ... but sad to say ... it has to close on a sour note ...

The foul was not captured by Live cameras ... till we saw the replay we did not known what happened ... A must mention ... Buffon's marvellous one hand tip over on Zidane's header in the first half of extra time ... the only time the defence caught napping ... In the closing minutes ... with Trezeguet and Wiltord on ... France pressed on ... but the Italians stood still

Records do not favoured Italy on penalties ... who would want to forget Roberto Baggio's miss which allowed Brazil to win in USA in '94 ... This final's shootout was not about the goalkeepers as all the players took their penalties very well except Trezeguet whom shot came against the underside of the crossbar but was on the line ...

Pirlo, Materazzi, Rossi and Del Piero scored ... Wiltord, Abidal, Sagnol scored ...

Is up to Grosso to score Italy's fifth ... and the penalty kick sent the whole stadium ( both Berlin and Chambers ) into rapture ... Italy's 4th truimph in World Cup history ... Another 4 years wait for South Africa 2010