July 9th 2006, we were all there, in front of the TV with the whole family silent, in silence, hoping that Grosso would score that penalty and, as soon as the ball crossed the line, we hugged each other with our hearts full of joy and shouted at out loud " WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!! ".
2006 World Cup: let's get started!
Summer 2006, Italy qualifies for ai World Cup. There is an air of celebration everywhere, I think the beauty of the World Cup is this, they manage to unite an entire nation, all Italians cheer and love only one team, Italy!
The World Cup begins, Italy plays against Ghana at the HDI arena in Hanover, a seemingly easy match, hand on heart, waving flag and Mameli's anthem booming through the streets. You win 2 to 0 (first Pirlo then Iaquinta) not a bad start, considering that Ghana gave the Azzurri a hard time for most of the match.
Second match of the group Italy challenges them United States, Caressa gives her pre-match monologue and, when the referee whistles the kick-off, the silence is deadly, Italy takes the lead with Gilardino and his violin, but five minutes later we are joined by the Americans, with a strange own goal, which will remain in the annals of sport as "Zaccardo's own goal". The game ends 1 to 1 Italy is now at 4 points, plus 1 from Ghana. The third game is decisive to see who will go through first the round. The wait for the meeting is unbearable, and when the moment finally arrives, the tension is sky high.
Italy-Czech Republic, 2 to 0 first Materazzi and then Pippo Inzaghi on the counterattack on an assist from Perrotta, where another event that has remained etched in memory takes place: the 'useless' race of Barone. Italy passes the group as seeded, we will play the match with the Australia. There was a particular optimism in the air, Italy was a strong team and the Italians believed in it.
The day of the meeting arrives, optimism turns into a party, all united to see 22 boys and a ball. The referee blows his whistle, silence falls. The game is difficult, the Australians do not allow spaces and at 50 ', still at 0 to 0, Materazzi is sent off. We are at 90 ', still a tie, the specter of overtime hovers in the field, 5 minutes of recovery are assigned, the game was almost over but here it is, Grosso takes the ball from the wing and penetrates into the air, he can put it in the middle but, unmark the defender brings the ball forward and is put down. PENALTY FOR ITALY. Totti he makes the ball his own, he is very concentrated, the referee whistles and explodes in the stadium, in the houses, in the bars, in the restaurants everywhere a people celebrating Italy in 10 passes to the quarterfinals.
The quarter-finals
At the quarters we find theUkraine, we pass without problems 3 to 0 (Zambrotta and Toni's brace) all at home. By now the Italians are in a soup of jujubes, we are in the semi-final against Germany. The match is difficult Germany is the host nation, but the Azzurri they are not discouraged, on the contrary they are determined to win the 2006 World Cup. The wait is exhausting, the match is too important.
Italy finally enters the field, all embraced to sing Brothers of Italy, waiting for the referee to start the dance. The match begins, neither team wants to give anything to the opponent, 22 very concentrated guys who have only one dream, to reach the final. The game ends 0 to 0 you have to go to extra time, the boys are very tired, the first extra time ends 0 to 0. Immediately, the second half starts again we are at 118 'and the game does not want to break free, we all begin to worry about the kicks of rigor, but here Italy has an opportunity from the flag, there is Pirlo who passes it to Grosso and it's a goal! Italy 1 Germany 0.
Germany tries everything, Italy must defend itself, 119 ′, Podolsky tries to put it in the middle, Totti brings it forward, passes it to Gilardino meanwhile Del Piero overlaps takes the ball and ... INCREDIBLE 2 to 0. Italy beats Germany and both wins a place in the 2006 World Cup final.
Italy is in the final
No excuses, no ifs and buts, Italy is in the final, we have to win, we have to raise that cup. July 9, 2006, France and Italy enter the field, the climate is tense, the players are very concentrated, the Mameli anthem echoes everywhere, in the stadium, in the houses, in the restaurants, in the squares, a single choir that unites a whole nation all embraced before the kick-off. The players line up, the referee blows his whistle, at 7 'minute Malouda falls into the penalty area of Italy, a penalty kick and an advantage that bears the name of Zizou Zinedine Zidane, but not even ten minutes pass and Materazzi wins the corner, 1 to 1.
Regular time ends like this, extra time begins and after crosses and goals canceled, the nervousness rises so much that Zidane loses his nerves and gives a head to Materazzi, with France in 10 and still ten minutes to play Italy shifts its center of gravity forward, but in vain. Extra time ends 1 to 1, it will be penalties to decide it. France loses the World Cup final and Italy is crowned champion. That day of the 2006 World Cup we all won.
