France vs. Italy - WORLD CUP FINAL!! ITALIA TRIUMPH

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The final is upon us.  At 11am PT on Sunday in Berlin, Italy will attempt to exact revenge on France, the team that snatched the Euro 2000 title away from them.  The French have fearsome Thierry Henry, brooding galactico Zinedine Zidane, shiny-headed Fabien Barthez.  The Italians have bellies full of gelati - I mean, the combined might of Cannavaro, Totti and Gattuso, boosted by Italian teammates who have shown they have fight in them right til the bitter end.  Zidane may be hungry to carry the World Cup trophy with him into retirement, but this youthful Italian team will not make it easy for him.  My money is on Italy.

Italy 1, France 1 (5-3 on penalties)

Zinedine "Bulldog" Zidane loses the plot, and Italia win soccer's greatest trophy, after a clinically executed penalty shoot-out, and a display of impressive defence. 

France took the lead early, after the mercurial Malouda fell in the box and Zidane pinballed the resulting penalty into the back of the net.  Materazzi equalised, leaping to the end of a corner looped his way by Andrea Pirlo.  The deadlock continued through the second half and into extra time, when a Zidane header looked certain to give the French a winning goal, but Buffon palmed it over the crossbar. 

Five minutes later, Zidane headbutted Materazzi in the chest for some unseen provocation and earned himself a red card.  It is almost unbelievable that the legendary soccer player ends his career (and an excellent tournament) with this  vicious act.  Still, the most important thing is - ITALY WIN THE WORLD CUP!!! And very well-deserved it is too.