Last update 28 January, 2022 by Alberto Llopis
Do you remember the World Cup in Germany? 2006? In the middle of the first decade of the 21st century, the German country hosted a World Cup event for the second time. As it happened in world of 1974, again the Germans did not fail and offered a spectacular championship with spectacular facilities (He highlighted the creation of the Allianz Arena in Munich and the remodeling of the old Olympic stadium in Berlin) and the highest comfort for both players and viewers. 1280 million invested in infrastructure for a championship that was seen by more than 3000 millions establishing a new record TV ratings.
This was the World Cup in Germany 2006
And participated as total it occurred in previous World 32 teams were divided into eight groups. Between them, all the major powers and some exotic countries like Togo, Trinidad and Tobago and Angola. 32 who staged a hard combined World, full of cards and with little baggage of game where the goal was an exception, converting the tournament in an event of contrasts, fascinating at the organizational level, disappointing in sports.
Spain was already pointing to what was going to be between 2008 y 2013
The group stage just brought surprises. Spain, with a young generation of players fell in love to the world with its overwhelming victory against Ukraine 4-0 warning that the near future would be his. All great powers passed, some with more surprises than others, like Italy or France, that bound to the second place in their group they had to deal with Spain in the second round in the big match of the second phase.
Precisely, that meeting would mark a turning point in the championship. That exciting and young Spain with an attractive game and high scoring capacity was going to be surprised by an aging France where Zinedine Zidane He captained a group where many of the old glories champions of France 1998.
Germany 2006 It was Cristiano Ronaldo's first World Cup
Was this a great game but not the only brilliant of the eighth. Portugal, with Figo and a young man Cristiano Ronaldo who was playing in his first World Cup, was going to eliminate Holland for 1-0 in a match that will be remembered by 12 yellow cards and four red cards shown by the Russian Valentin Ivanov and that constitutes a record still in force.
A controversial refereeing decision as lived in Italy 1-Australia 0, where Totti was to transform a penalty in minute 95. Standouts were in this round that Switzerland fell eliminated starring a record curious: he was eliminated in the World penalties without conceding a goal in the tournament.
With most large quartered, the third last round did not disappoint. Portugal knocked England out again in the shootout and Ricardo as savior image and likeness of what happened two years ago at Euro. France won eliminated by 1-0 to a disappointing Brazil where the highlight was that Ronaldo Nazario became the top scorer in World Cup history con 15 many. Record that Klose would take away in Brazil 2014.
Argentina was eliminated by Germany in a penalty shootout with Lehman exciting protagonist (replaced in goal Khan in one of the most controversial decisions). Quietly, Italy thrashed Ukraine 3-0 showing their typical game speculative.
Zidane was one of the best in his last World Cup
The semifinals brought pure excitement. France, con Zidane of protagonist, he eliminated Portugal for a short 1-0 converted from a penalty by him at that time 5 Real Madrid. Italy won in overtime to Germany 0-2 showing an ambitious offensive image and rarely seen version. So, the final was served. Italy-France relived the final of Euro 200th year. And they did it with referee Horacio Elizondo witness, Curiously, the same who had opened the World.
The big title game did not disappoint. Zidane scored panenka style against Buffon at seven minutes. Matterazzi to the 19 tied. As if it were a premonition, both would star in one of the images in the history of the World. In full extension, Zidane provoked by the transalpine defender was going to attack Materazzi with a header forcing his expulsion in his last minutes as a professional.
France with ten men it came to penalties, where Italy took advantage of a mistake by Trezeguet to become world champions for the fourth time after scoring Fabio Grosso the decisive penalty. Italy won, possibly fairly, as it was also fair that Klose will finish as top scorer and? Zidane will take the Golden Ball to the best player of that tournament, not of the year, that would end up taking him Fabio Cannavaro. Perfect example of what the World.