Italy wins fourth title on penalties [Archives:2006/962/Front Page]

SANA'A, July 10 ) Italy won the World Cup title for the fourth time in its history thanks to a decisive penalty from fullback Crosso after the France's forward Trezeguet missed and Zidane's was sent off for crazily headbutting the Italian defender Materazzi.

Both sides played a dramatic final, the rarest of the kind in the world cup history. France went ahead in minute 7 of the first half when Zidane opened the scoring via a penalty shot while Materazzi answered for the Italians in minute 18 of the same half through a strong header.

The two teams played a similar quarterfinal in 1998 when an extra time game ended scoreless helping the French, led by Zadane, to qualify for the semi-final on penalties.

This is the second World Cup final ending on penalties, as the first was in the U.S.A. when Brazil deserved the trophy after knocking out Italy in a penalty shoot-out.

More details on the dramatic final in the next issue.
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