The Berlin final that stunned the world
Zidane's 7th-minute Panenka penalty put France ahead before Materazzi equalized with a header. The French captain's red card for headbutting the Italian defender in the 110th minute changed everything — replays showed Materazzi had verbally provoked him. Fabio Grosso buried the decisive penalty past Fabien Barthez, completing Italy's fourth title. Germany's Olympiastadion hosted 69,000 fans who saw the Azzurri extend their penalty shootout perfection to three straight World Cup wins (1994, 1998, 2006).
Germany's summer of surprises
Jürgen Klinsmann's young German team overperformed, thrilling home crowds with attacking football. Miroslav Klose won the Golden Boot with five goals, while Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger announced themselves as stars. Their semifinal loss to Italy in Dortmund — decided by Grosso's 119th-minute strike and Del Piero's breakaway — remains one of the tournament's best matches. The third-place playoff saw Podolski named Young Player of the Tournament after a 3–1 win over Portugal.
Controversies beyond Zidane
Portugal's clashes with Netherlands (16 yellow cards, 4 reds) and England (Rooney's stamp, Ronaldo's wink) overshadowed their semifinal run. Argentina's early exit after a penalty shootout loss to Germany featured Maxi Rodríguez's volley against Mexico — arguably the goal of the tournament. Australia nearly shocked Italy in the Round of 16 before Francesco Totti's 95th-minute penalty. The tournament also saw the last World Cup appearances for legends like Ronaldo, Figo, and Beckham.
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Frequently asked questions
Who scored in the 2006 World Cup final?+
Zinedine Zidane (penalty) and Marco Materazzi (header) scored in regulation; all five Italian penalty takers converted in the shootout.
Why was Zidane sent off in 2006?+
He headbutted Materazzi after the Italian allegedly insulted his sister. The incident occurred in the 110th minute with the score 1–1.
Which stadium hosted the 2006 final?+
Berlin's Olympiastadion, built for the 1936 Olympics and later renovated for the World Cup.
How many goals did Miroslav Klose score?+
Five — all in the group stage, including braces against Costa Rica and Ecuador.
Did any team go unbeaten in 2006?+
Italy (5 wins, 2 draws) and Switzerland (2 wins, 2 draws) were the only undefeated teams.