Zinedine Zidane sent Italian defender Marco Materazzi flying with a blow to the chest during the 2006 Fifa World Cup final.
The global football landscape returned to its traditional heartland in 2006, breaking fresh cultural ground as the Fifa World Cup was hosted by a reunited Germany for the very first time.
For the host nation, it marked a monumental opportunity to showcase a modern, open, and vibrant country to the global stage, with Jurgen Klinsmann’s young team determined to shed Germany's reputation for rigid efficiency in favour of a refreshing, attacking brand of football.
Yet, while the tournament celebrated unity and high-scoring drama under the banner of "A time to make friends", it was also played under the heavy shadow of immense domestic pressure for the eventual champions.
Italy arrived in Germany amidst the explosive chaos of the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal back home, forcing Marcello Lippi’s squad to forge an iron-clad siege mentality.
