2006 FIFA World Cup: Zidane’s Fin...
2006 FIFA World Cup: Zidane’s Final Act, Italy’s Redemption and Germany’s Summer Fairy Tale

More Than Just A Score by Michael Leach

Episode notes

In this episode of More Than Just A Score, we revisit the unforgettable 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. From the controversial host selection vote to the road through qualification, from Italy’s Calciopoli scandal to Germany’s festival atmosphere, this tournament had everything.

We look back at Argentina’s beautiful football, Brazil’s shocking disappointment, England’s penalty heartbreak, France’s late surge behind Zinedine Zidane, and Italy’s dramatic march to the final.

Then we break down the final itself: Zidane’s Panenka penalty, Materazzi’s equalizer, Buffon’s save, the infamous head butt, and Italy’s penalty shootout victory.

Germany 2006 was more than a tournament. It was the end of one football era and the beginning of another.

Credit: FIFA, BBC Sport, The Guardian, ESPN FC

Keywords
football history podcast2006 FIFA World CupWorld Cup 2006Zidane head buttZidane Materazzi2006 World Cup finalZinedine ZidaneWorld Cup historyFIFA World Cupsoccer history podcast