It was 20 years ago today that Italy took the first steps on their way to lifting the trophy in Germany.
Ghana provided the opposition in Group E but gifted the Azzurri the points when sloppy defending allowed Vincenzo Iaquinta in to seal a 2-0 win in the second half after Andrea Pirlo had arrowed home the opener shortly before the break.
Pirlo was named man of the match as he started the tournament the way he would continue through until the final – the midfield maestro was named the third-best player in Germany. His captain, Fabio Cannavaro, claimed the silver ball with Frenchman Zinedine Zidane taking first prize despite losing to the Italians in final.
Pirlo was midway through his decade-long spell with AC Milan at the time of the tournament while Iaquinta was on the books of Udinese. The goal against Ghana was the first of six Iaquinta scored for his country and while taking nothing away from his cool finish, a horrible short back-pass by Samuel Kuffour laid it on a plate.
Kuffour had just finished the season with Roma and would head out on loan to Livorno on his return to Italy, but that opening game of Germany 2006 was his first and last at the World Cup.
After the match, looking back on his mistake, he said: “I am sad for my family. Sad for my country and for the rest of Africa.”
Ghana beat the Czech Republic and the USA to qualify but were no match for Brazil in the last 16.
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