Berlin - Italy's World Cup winning squad return home to a heroes' welcome Monday after a penalty shootout win over France sealed a fourth title for the country.
Italian coach Marcello Lippi (L) and team captain Fabio Cannavaro pose with the World Cup trophy during a press conference in Duisburg, Monday, 10 July 2006. Italy became the new soccer World Champion when defeating France in a penalty shoot-out in Berlin on Sunday. EPA/Bernd Thissen
The Azzurri's 5-3 shootout victory after the sides finished level at 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time has ensured a euphoric atmosphere in Italian football despite the match-fixing scandal currently enveloping the domestic football scene.
League champions Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio all face the threat of relegation from Serie A when a judge in Rome gives a verdict on the scandal later this week.
But the sight of Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro lifting the 18- carat gold trophy in Berlin's Olympic stadium on the night he earned his hundredth cap has pushed the country's footballing irregularities to the back of everyone's minds.
Coach Marcello Lippi said after the win that his team return home with their heads held high and without any worries about the future.
'Why will it be difficult to go back to the reality of Italian football?' he asked.
'We are going back to the reality of Italian football and Italy have just become world champions. The reality is that it is going to be hard for the other nations.'
Italy have now added to the titles won in 1934, 1938 and 1982, which moves them ahead of three-time winners Germany, who they eliminated in the semi-finals, and one behind five-time winners Brazil.
The win also removes the bitter memories of a defeat on penalties to Brazil in the 1994 final in Pasadena and the golden goal loss to France at Euro 2000.
'I have never felt joy like this ever before. This is the greatest thing a sportsman can experience. We are all overjoyed,' Lippi said.
The emotions in the Italian camp are in marked contrast to the atmosphere in France, where the nation is still reeling from an agonizing defeat compounded by the extra time dismissal of captain and national idol Zinedine Zidane.
David Trezeguet may have missed the decisive spot kick for France but the final will be remembered for France captain Zidane head-butting Marco Materazzi in the chest in his last game before retiring from professional football.
Argentinian referee Horacio Elizondo did not see the off-the-ball incident but after consulting with his linesman, showed Zidane the red card.
Zidane, bidding to lift the World Cup for the second time after 1998, had earlier scored France's opening goal with a cheeky chipped penalty while Materazzi equalized 12 minutes later with a firm header.
So probably France's greatest ever player wasn't able to see live how Fabio Grosso ensured a famous Italian win when he converted his penalty.
'We deserved this victory by keeping our cool in the penalty shootout. We didn't miss one,' said a proud Lippi.
No one doubts that Italy deserved the World Cup title but Zidane, the best player of his generation, also deserved a better farewell than sitting dejected in the French dressing room as his team-mates received their medals.
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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