Italy Claim Fourth World Cup Title in Penalty Shoot-Out

For just the second time in the history of the tournament, the sport's greatest prize was settled by spot-kicks after both teams had finished extra-time in a tactical 1-1 deadlock.

Italy defender Fabio Grosso rifled home the Azzurri's winning penalty to clinch a 5-3 victory in the shoot-out after France substitute David Trezeguet bounced his side's second spot-kick off the crossbar.

It was the first time Italy had won a penalty shoot-out in four attempts and it handed Marcello Lippi's men a fourth World Cup crown to set alongside victories in 1934, 1938 and 1982.

But the penalty finish seemed almost incidental compared to one shocking scene in the second-half of extra time. Zidane finished his part in an otherwise excellent performance by being sent off for a moment of off-the-ball madness when he smashed his head into defender Marco Materazzi's chest.

The incident was missed by referee Horacio Elizondo but Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon remonstrated furiously with the linesman and the official called over the man-in-the-middle that would end in a red card for the stunned French playmaker.

Zidane trooped off and down the tunnel in disgust, for a disastrous, and entirely self-inflicted end to one of soccer's greatest careers with 108 caps. He didn't reappear to accept a silver medal with the rest of his suffering teammates.

France took early lead in tight match

With Italy and France boasting the two meanest defenses in the competition going into the match, a tightly contested encounter had been expected. But to the delight of a 69,000-capacity crowd, both teams managed to produce an open match of the highest quality between stretches of slow passing.

France striker Thierry Henry was at his scintillating best throughout, surging relentlessly at the Italian defense in a marvelous individual performance and doing his best to upstage Zidane in his final match. Only a near heroic performance from Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro, in his 100th match for the national team, kept Henry from making a breakthrough.

France took the lead under dramatic circumstances, when Materazzi was deemed to have clipped Florent Malouda in the box with the game just minutes old, earning a penalty from Elizondo.

More drama followed with the spot-kick when Zidane opted to lob his shot into goal past Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon who went the wrong way. The midfield maestro's effort crashed back down off the bar -- and just inside the line to give France a 1-0 lead with seven minutes gone.

Materazzi involved in all of game's drama

Italy responded with the most exciting 15 minutes of the game and were soon on level terms thanks to Materazzi, the same man who gave France the lead.

Andrea Pirlo floated in a corner and Materazzi made amends for his part in the penalty drama by jumping over Vieira to bury his header on 19 minutes.

Lightning almost struck twice nine minutes later when Materazzi again out jumped the French defense from a curling Andrea Pirlo corner but was caught pushing off Vieira.

France's defending from the subsequent corner was again chaotic, and they were given a huge let off when an unmarked Toni hit the bar with a header.

After dominating the opening 45 minutes, Italy retreated in the second half as a rejuvenated France upped the tempo, with Henry and Franck Ribery menacing throughout.

France find new life in second half

Suddenly it was Italy on the back foot. Wonderful interplay from Henry and Ribery saw the ball swept to Zidane who released Malouda in the area.

A desperate cover tackle from Zambrotta brought Malouda crashing down, but legitimate French appeals for a second penalty were rejected by Elizondo.

Extra-time saw France go closest to breaking the deadlock when Zidane saw a glancing header palmed over the bar by Buffon.

But Zidane ensured he finished his career in disgrace as the minutes wound down and Italy held their nerve to claim the shoot-out drama that would send millions of Italians into the streets.