Mama, Mia!
Golden Ball winner, Lippis future and more details on what led to the most bizarre World Cup moment of all time.

Disgraced Zidane Claims Golden Ball
A crock of shit indeed, Henry's less than stellar performance led to this, as Zidane did not have to split any votes with other teammates unlike Fabio Cannavaro. Cannavaro lost out to Zidane 1977 to 2012, literally decimal points. The biggest reason was alot of Italian votes, 715, went to Andrea Pirlo instead for his amazing midfield play throughout the tournament. Gianluigi Buffon also took his fair share.

Italy captain Cannavaro led an Italian defense that conceded only two goals in the tournament: an own-goal against the United States and Zidane's penalty. The final was his 100th cap for Italy.

"I got my award, that's it right there," Cannavaro said, gesturing toward the World Cup trophy sitting on the table in front of him. "I'm extremely pleased with what I have."
With fellow central defender Alessandro Nesta injured, Cannavaro played every minute of Italy's seven games.
Many pundits tipped Cannavaro as the winner, including 1986 winner Diego Maradona.
"Fabio Cannavaro was the best player of this World Cup," the Argentine great said. "Yes, it was a tournament without one dominant player, but Fabio was huge."

Zidane vs Materazzi
Neither have spoken to the media but the word is, a serious remark was made to Zidane by Materazzi a known racist. He was saying what everyone at home wanted to say. The one report I heard claimed he told the Algerian born Zidane to "play for your own country."
So true.
npocs papes revealed earlier in the week, nearly the entire french squad was eligible to play for African countries where they were born. The monkeys invaded France, raped women, collected unemployment and then joined the national team.

This World Cup win by Italy over France proved to be one of the greatest days in the history of the white race. This almost makes up for Sonny Liston beating Billy Conn.
Other newspapers claimed Materazzi called Zidane a terrorist. Another valid thing Materazzi could have said.

Despite winning the World Cup and scoring Italy's only goal, Materazzi rushed through a mob of journalists, refusing to divulge what he said.

"Ciao, ciao, ragazzi," he shouted.

npocs papes official Man of the Match
Marco Materazzi
He scored the equalizer in the 19th minute, added a penalty kick and aggravated Zidane with what I think were racist chants to have him sent off.

Lippi Set To Remain On Board
Early reports proved false. Everything from tying Lippi to Manchester United to him stepping down, but it appears that Lippi is poised for a run at the EuroCup in 2008. He did express concern for his players back at him on the club level.

He said: "To arrive at the summit is both beautiful and rewarding.
"It is beautiful to win important titles and when you reach the top, you realise how hard it was to get there and how fantastic it would be to discover new emotions and incentives.
"Some people would maybe decide to stop there, but I intend to continue my work.


ITALIA, LA FESTA CONTINUA

Italian Fans Celebrate Title; Scandal Inspires Azzurri

Italy’s Grosso Comes Up ‘Large’ Again

Buffon, Legendary

Italy Hold Their Nerve To Claim Fourth Crown
Italy recovered from the loss of an early goal to outscore France in a penalty showdown as the FIFA World Cup Final went the full distance for only the second time. For Zinedine Zidane there was double disappointment as his final ever game ended with a red card.

Quotes
Andrea Pirlo
I cannot believe we are the World Champions!

Gennaro Gattuso
Now we’re going back to Duisburg to party all night.

Fabio Grosso
It’s a moment of overwhelming joy and my thoughts are with my nearest and dearest. I’d like to dedicate this victory to my wife and family.

Mauro Camoranesi
I promised I’d get my hair cut if we won, so they cut it for me in the dressing room, I’ll let it grow again though.

Luca Toni
Fantastic!! We’re the World Champions, I still can’t believe it. I can’t think straight at the moment but it’s a wonderful feeling. Now we want to celebrate with the Italy fans when we get back to Rome. We’re going to party all summer.

Francesco Totti
This win is very important; it’ll go down in history.

Gianluigi Buffon
I definitely would’ve saved the fifth penalty, but my teammates were good enough to make sure it didn’t come to that.

Totti's Future?
BERLIN (AP) - Francesco Totti is going to spend the night that Italy won the World Cup deciding his future with the national team.
''Tonight I'll think about it, then tomorrow I'll announce it,'' the 29-year-old Totti said. ''I want to dedicate myself to my family and be with them more. There are too many training camps, too much pressure. I'll talk with my wife tonight and if she says I can continue, that's what I'll do.''
Totti didn't look too pleased when he left Sunday's final in the 61st minute to be replaced by AS Roma teammate Daniele De Rossi.
His exit meant Italy's best penalty kick taker was on the bench when all five Azzurri converted their shots to win the match 5-3 in a shootout.


Fox Soccer Channel

Berlin, Germany- It was a game in which history was finally buried.
Sunday night, Italy shook off the shadow of Roberto Baggio's missed penalty kick in 1994 to win the World Cup, 5-3 on penalty kicks after being tied 1-1 after regulation.

It was the first time in four tries that the Italians had won a championship in the tiebreaker and gave the Italians their fourth Cup, a feat excelled only by Brazil, which owns five titles.

The final, hosted at an Olympic Stadium with a troubled history of its own looking to be exorcised, did give Berlin a fitting send-off for a sub-standard Cup.

According to members of the French media, French players told them that Matterazi called Zidane a racial slur which prompted the head butt.

Fabio Cannavaro, a player who has belied his diminutive stature with some giant performances this past month, fittingly closed the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ by holding the biggest prize in football aloft. Fireworks proclaiming a fourth FIFA World Cup for Italy exploded into the black skies above the Olympiastadion as the Azzurri party began, leaving France – and a disconsolate Zinedine Zidane – to their own thoughts.

There was irony in the failure of Trezeguet whose penalty – France's second - crashed against the crossbar and refused to cross the line. It was Trezeguet who struck the Golden Goal when the sides met in the final of UEFA EURO 2000 and left a scar that Italy had waited six long years to heal.


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