2006 World Cup Champions: Italy

Italy have won the World Cup Final in penalties (5-3) after a 1-1 draw with France.

The Final Standings

1st Place - Italy
2nd Place - France
3rd Place - Germany

Congratulations to Italy for their 4th World Cup title. Strange enough France dominated most of the game starting in the second half, but could not create any scoring opportunities and lost Zidane (red-card) in extra time for headbutting a fellow Italian player, Viera (injured), and Henry (cramps). You would have thought by watching extra time, France could have scored the winner, but it was not to be.

As the national Italian team celebrates, we will wonder about the scandal back at home where four of the top Italian football teams may get relegated to either a second or third division, and where most of the Italian players are from.

Anyways, I am not completely happy with Italy winning given their "diving" style so they should not even deserve the "fair play" award. It is amusing that they saved up all their energy for their victory dance rather than doing a better job playing on the pitch against France.