On This Day at the World Cup – July 9: Rome Goes Wild as Italy Lift the Trophy

On this day in 2006 Italy won their fourth World Cup title when they beat France on penalties in the German capital Berlin.

The Azzurri had seen off the hosts to reach their first final in 12 years, while France had beaten Portugal in the other semi. 

Marco Materazzi was heavily involved in the showpiece event, scoring Italy’s equaliser after Zinedine Zidane had given France the lead with an outrageous Panenka penalty over Gianluigi Buffon.

Inter Milan defender Materazzi was also on the receiving end of a Zidane headbutt to the chest, a move which earned the Juventus legend a red card before the game went all the way and David Trezeguet missed his spot-kick for Les Bleus.

Around 950 miles away in Rome, an estimated 150,000 people watched the game in Circus Maximus – an ancient chariot racing stadium used for entertainment events, sitting between the Colosseum and Trastevere (across the River Tiber).

Fans partied long into the night after the trophy was won and when the team returned the following day, half a million people flocked to the centre of the Eternal City for the bus parade. 

Since those heady days of 2006, Italy have won just one game at a World Cup and have failed to quality for the last three editions. Yet those who took part in the festivities that summer will never forget the jubilation.