By George Burns Jul 10, 2006, 12:13 GMT
Berlin - Marcello Lippi said Sunday that Italy were worthy world champions after his seeing his side beat France 5-3 in a penalty shootout in Berlin's Olympic stadium.
Italy had never won a penalty shootout at a World Cup before Sunday, going out in three of the last four World Cups in this way, but the Azzurri converted all five against France after the match finished 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes and extra time.
'We deserved this victory by keeping our cool in the penalty shootout. We didn't miss one,' said a proud Lippi. 'It's something that the players wanted really strongly, that's why they scored all five.'
Italy fell behind early on when Marco Materazzi brought down Florent Malouda and Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo pointed to the spot. Zinedine Zidane cooly converted, chipping the ball over the diving Gianluca Buffon
Materazzi made amends by leaping over Patrick Vieira to head Italy back level in the 19th minute.
'I don't know if it was a penalty but I know that we reacted brilliantly,' said Lippi. 'In the second half there was a bit of a drop in our energy levels.'
However, the match was overshadowed by Zidane's extra time headbutt into the chest of Italian defender Materazzi which resulted in the three-time world player of the year seeing a straight red after Elizondo was informed of the incident by his officials.
'It was not Materazzi that got the attention of the referee, it was the fourth and fifth referee,' said Lippi. 'It was them. We didn't do anything, they brought it to the attention of the referee.'
Lippi added that he was sorry for Zidane and that he had told the midfielder before the game that he thought he was making a mistake in quitting the game at 34.
'Zidane is great player, I don't think he should go,' he said. 'I told him that before the game. I told him he should reconsider. If he does go I think it's a great shame that he goes out on this note.'
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