AZZURRI COME UP GROSSO
Italians Crowned World Champions
Both sides came in wearing blue, but only Italy leaves wearing Gold. Rallying from one down Marco Materazzi ties the game and Fabio Grosso drills the game winner in penalty kicks, 5-3, as the Italians claim their Fourth World Championship and first since 1982.

The greatest day of my life and biggest sporting event I have ever experienced will be chronicled throughout the week, with reaction, news, first hand accounts, stories, pictures and more.

Renaissance Men
For the fourth time in history, Italy has won the World Cup. After Zinedine Zidane’s ejection for headbutting, the Azzurri beat France 5-3 on penalty kicks Sunday in Berlin.

Italy overcomes Early Deficit For World Cup Title

Italy Top of the World
Italy are champions for a fourth time. They held their nerve in a penalty shoot-out to score all five kicks as David Trezeguet missed for France. But the match will perhaps be best remembered for Zinedine Zidane’s career ending in disgrace after being dismissed for an off-the-ball incident Marco Materazzi. He head butted the Italian defender after a heated discussion on 110 minutes and, after some consultations between officials, was show the red card.

Italy 1-1 France; Italy triumph as Zizou explodes

Domenech ‘understands’ Zidane blowing his top

Triumphant Lippi hails his ‘most satisfying moment’

The Gold Standard

Zidane Sent Off For Headbutting Materazzi

Berlin -- Zidane cut short his dazzling World Cup and closed his career with an ugly head butt -- and a loss. The France captain was given a red card for slamming the crown of his bald head into the center of Materazzi's chest after the two exchanged words while walking down the field in extra time.

Italians Win Title and Admireres

Materazzi Shows His Two Sides in Cup Final

Explosion of Joy in Rome
Tens of thousands of Italians flocked onto the streets of Rome late on Sunday in a dam burst of joy. Immediately after the final whistle in Germany, delirious supporters crowded into Piazza Venezia in the centre of the Italian capital. In nearby Bibo's Bar delirium broke out after Italy's full-back Fabio Grosso buried the decisive penalty.


BRAVISSIMI!
Italy Tops France 5-3 In Shootout
BERLIN (AP) -- The beautiful game turned vicious, even venomous Sunday. It was all still beautiful to Italy.

But the Italians, never masters of the penalty kick, made all five, setting off an hour of hugging, dancing and fist-pumping celebrations.

On the trophy stand, amid hugs and slaps on the back, Materazzi placed a red, white and green top hat on the World Cup Trophy. Captain Fabio Cannavaro then held it high as cameras flashed everywhere. An impromptu Tarantella by the players followed as silver confetti fluttered around them.

"I've won many championships," coach Marcello Lippi said, "but a joy so big I have never felt."With a 25-game unbeaten streak dating back nearly two years, the Italians added this title to their championships in 1934, 1938 and '82 -- when another match-fixing investigation plagued Serie A.
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