Though he lost the World Cup final, Raymond Domenech will still be the France’s coach. After all, you have to agree that nobody really expected France to go so far.

Domenech, who took over from Jacques Santini after UEFA EURO 2004, was offered an extension to his two-year contract and he accepted it, the FFF […]

Zidane was voted the best player at the World Cup and he won the adidas Golden Ball.

France playmaker Zinedine Zidane won the adidas Golden Ball voted for by journalists at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™.
Although his team ultimately failed in their bid to lift the Trophy, Les Bleus’ No.10 won the vote for the […]

France is not so forgiving as it initially seems. The press crucifies Zizou for his gesture of hitting Materazzi in the final of the World Cup.

“Les Bleus’ broken dream,” headlined the Figaro daily in a merciless editorial, saying Zidane’s “final and odious headbutt” had tarnished the final match of a “magical” player.
“We were left speechless […]

Italy and France played a very tactical game, that was decided by penalty shots, eventually.

TSG analysis by Jozef VENGLOS (SVK)
The Final was a very tight game between two excellent teams. It was a real tactical contest and the key to the match was without doubt the duel between Andrea Pirlo and Zinedine Zidane.
When one attacked […]

Though he received an infamous red card for hitting Materazzi, French fans still consider him a hero.

“It’s a very sad exit for Zidane,” said Vincent Schneider, 24, after watching the game in Paris’s Latin Quarter. “He was the major actor in the World Cup. He was under too much pressure.”
Zidane’s dismissal in extra-time for […]

Marcello Lippi and Raymond Domenech had, of course, different reactions, but they accepted the result.

Marcello LIPPI (ITA)
The further we progressed in this tournament, the more realised we could win it. Our confidence grew from match to match, especially when we beat Germany in a stadium that couldn’t have been more perfect for them.
It was […]

French and Italian players have totally opposite reactions, as you might expect, of course: French players said nothing.

Budweiser Man of the Match, Andrea PIRLO (ITA)
It’s an overwhelming joy, but it will take time to fully sink in. I cannot believe we are the World Champions! About Zidane, the referee reacted butt. But we must not […]

1.
Italy: Pirlo 1-0
France: Wiltord 1-1
2.
Italy: Materazzi 2-1
France: Trezeguet hits the crossbar. Still 2-1
3.
Italy: DeRossi scores 3-1
France: Abidal 3-2
4.
Italy: Del Piero scores 4-2
France: Sagnol scores 4-3
5.
Italy: Grosso scores
ITALY IS THE WORLD CHAMPION!!!!!!!!

Zinedine Zidane hit Materazzi with the head and has received a red card. The reason? Nobody knows yet.
What would make Zizou, at the final game of his career, react like this?

Michel Platini is an emblamatic player for France: he brought the first major title to Paris, Euro Championship in 1984. Right now, he knows it is only the final that matters.

FIFAworldcup.com: Monsieur Platini, what are your thoughts on the 2006 FIFA World Cup?
Michel Platini: I’ve said elsewhere that it’s the coaches’ World Cup, and […]