RC_KAOS
07-10-2006, 03:32 AM
http://www.sportal.com.au/photos/news/085244news.jpg Zinedine Zidane's dream finale has turned from glory to despair as 10-man France lost 5-3 on penalties to Italy in an enthralling World Cup final in Berlin.
Zidane bowed out from all forms of professional football in the worst possible fashion after being sent off for clashing with Italian defender Marco Materazzi ten minutes from the end of extra-time.
The match finished 1-1 after 120 minutes of pulsating action.
The 34-year-old was rightfully dismissed for aiming a head at the chest of Materazzi, preceding a penalty shootout in which Zidane would surely have taken a spot-kick.
As it was, neither goalkeeper made a save as all five Italian takers were successful - the winner powerfully slotted home by jubilant full-back Fabio Grosso - while substitute David Trezeguet hit the bar with France's second penalty.
Man-of-the-match Andrea Pirlo, Materazzi himself, Daniele De Rossi, Alessandro Del Piero and Grosso were the quintet of Italian heroes.
Trezeguet's failure stirred memories of France's opener after just seven minutes when Zidane - then still in the running for player of the tournament - scored from the spot via the crossbar after Florent Malouda had been impeded.
Materazzi, only playing because of a groin injury to Alessandro Nesta, headed an equaliser for his second World Cup goal on 19 minutes while Luca Toni also hit the bar and had a headed effort disallowed for offside.
Zidane was also denied by a flying save from Gianluigi Buffon in extra-time moments before the goalscorers clashed and France's dream of second World Cup triumph crashed to the ground.
The match had started so well for the French.
Moments after receiving a booking for a clumsy challenge on Juventus team-mate Patrick Vieira, Gianluca Zambrotta neglected his defensive duties and allowed Malouda a free run into the Italian box
That left Matterazzi exposed and even though the Inter Milan defender only brushed the charging Malouda attempting to avoid a potentially fatal collision, the Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo judged the contact enough to warrant a penalty.
Zidane, who scored low to Ricardo's right in the semi-final win over Portugal, this time opted to chip the giant frame of Buffon in the Italian goal.
But his international swansong threatened to turn sour even earlier than it eventually did as he dinked the ball onto the underside of the bar but, fortunately for France, down over the goal-line to the palpable relief of the French captain.
However, Italy controlled large parts of the rest of the half and was duly rewarded by Materazzi's clinical header.
The former Everton defender, who had endured a mixed tournament even before giving away the early penalty, made amends when he outjumped Vieira to convert Pirlo's corner.
It was just reward for the growing dominance of the Italians, particularly centrally where Milan pairing Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso was excellent.
And another pinpoint delivery from Pirlo almost provided Italy the half-time lead when Lilian Thuram failed to smother Toni and the striker's header ricocheted off the bar.
France started the brighter after the break with Thierry Henry's influential starting to show with a dazzling run.
But when Vieira succumbed to a hamstring strain on the hour, Italy's midfield again took control and thought their side had taken the lead before Toni's header was disallowed for offside.
Then, Pirlo had his head in his hands after curling a free-kick inches wide of the post.
France rediscovered its rhythm towards the end of normal time and into extra-time with Frank Ribery and Malouda - the widemen impressive all evening - combining before Ribery squeezed a shot wide.
Buffon then tipped over the unmarked Zidane's bullet header before the Real Madrid star's rush of blood and subsequent red card as the game became ever more disjointed and fractious.
In the end, the image of the departing Zidane will be the defining moment of the World Cup, Italy's fourth football crown after wins in 1934, 1938 and 1982.
http://worldcup.ninemsn.com.au/img/slideshow/0607101/71402393_8.jpg
http://worldcup.ninemsn.com.au/img/slideshow/0607101/71402424_8.jpg
http://worldcup.ninemsn.com.au/img/slideshow/0607101/71402434_8.jpg
http://worldcup.ninemsn.com.au/img/slideshow/0607101/71402527_8.jpg
http://worldcup.ninemsn.com.au/img/slideshow/0607101/71402457_8.jpg
Zidane bowed out from all forms of professional football in the worst possible fashion after being sent off for clashing with Italian defender Marco Materazzi ten minutes from the end of extra-time.
The match finished 1-1 after 120 minutes of pulsating action.
The 34-year-old was rightfully dismissed for aiming a head at the chest of Materazzi, preceding a penalty shootout in which Zidane would surely have taken a spot-kick.
As it was, neither goalkeeper made a save as all five Italian takers were successful - the winner powerfully slotted home by jubilant full-back Fabio Grosso - while substitute David Trezeguet hit the bar with France's second penalty.
Man-of-the-match Andrea Pirlo, Materazzi himself, Daniele De Rossi, Alessandro Del Piero and Grosso were the quintet of Italian heroes.
Trezeguet's failure stirred memories of France's opener after just seven minutes when Zidane - then still in the running for player of the tournament - scored from the spot via the crossbar after Florent Malouda had been impeded.
Materazzi, only playing because of a groin injury to Alessandro Nesta, headed an equaliser for his second World Cup goal on 19 minutes while Luca Toni also hit the bar and had a headed effort disallowed for offside.
Zidane was also denied by a flying save from Gianluigi Buffon in extra-time moments before the goalscorers clashed and France's dream of second World Cup triumph crashed to the ground.
The match had started so well for the French.
Moments after receiving a booking for a clumsy challenge on Juventus team-mate Patrick Vieira, Gianluca Zambrotta neglected his defensive duties and allowed Malouda a free run into the Italian box
That left Matterazzi exposed and even though the Inter Milan defender only brushed the charging Malouda attempting to avoid a potentially fatal collision, the Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo judged the contact enough to warrant a penalty.
Zidane, who scored low to Ricardo's right in the semi-final win over Portugal, this time opted to chip the giant frame of Buffon in the Italian goal.
But his international swansong threatened to turn sour even earlier than it eventually did as he dinked the ball onto the underside of the bar but, fortunately for France, down over the goal-line to the palpable relief of the French captain.
However, Italy controlled large parts of the rest of the half and was duly rewarded by Materazzi's clinical header.
The former Everton defender, who had endured a mixed tournament even before giving away the early penalty, made amends when he outjumped Vieira to convert Pirlo's corner.
It was just reward for the growing dominance of the Italians, particularly centrally where Milan pairing Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso was excellent.
And another pinpoint delivery from Pirlo almost provided Italy the half-time lead when Lilian Thuram failed to smother Toni and the striker's header ricocheted off the bar.
France started the brighter after the break with Thierry Henry's influential starting to show with a dazzling run.
But when Vieira succumbed to a hamstring strain on the hour, Italy's midfield again took control and thought their side had taken the lead before Toni's header was disallowed for offside.
Then, Pirlo had his head in his hands after curling a free-kick inches wide of the post.
France rediscovered its rhythm towards the end of normal time and into extra-time with Frank Ribery and Malouda - the widemen impressive all evening - combining before Ribery squeezed a shot wide.
Buffon then tipped over the unmarked Zidane's bullet header before the Real Madrid star's rush of blood and subsequent red card as the game became ever more disjointed and fractious.
In the end, the image of the departing Zidane will be the defining moment of the World Cup, Italy's fourth football crown after wins in 1934, 1938 and 1982.
http://worldcup.ninemsn.com.au/img/slideshow/0607101/71402393_8.jpg
http://worldcup.ninemsn.com.au/img/slideshow/0607101/71402424_8.jpg
http://worldcup.ninemsn.com.au/img/slideshow/0607101/71402434_8.jpg
http://worldcup.ninemsn.com.au/img/slideshow/0607101/71402527_8.jpg
http://worldcup.ninemsn.com.au/img/slideshow/0607101/71402457_8.jpg