FIFA World Cup History

Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup

Year: 2006

Participants: 32

Countries: Germany, Costa Rica, Poland, Ecuador,England, Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago, Sweden, Argentina, Côte d'Ivoire, Serbia and Montenegro, Netherlands, Mexico, Iran, Angola, Portugal, Italy, Ghana,USA, Czech RepublicBrazil, Croatia, Australia, Japan, France, Switzerland, Korea Republic, Togo, Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia

Championship: Italy 5 , France 3 (in a penalty shootout)

Top goal scorer: Miroslav Klose, Germany (5)

MVP: Zinedine Zidane, France.

The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six populated continents participated in the qualification process which began in September 2003. Thirty-one teams qualified from this process, along with the host nation, Germany, for the finals tournament.

When the tournament began, Italy weren't one of the favorites. The likes of Germany, Argentina and Brazil were more fancied. After topping a difficult group containing Ghana, USA and the Czech Republic, Italy were able to negotiate a difficult match against Australia. A win over Ukraine put them in a semi-final against Germany. It was a titanic tussle which the Azzuri finally overcame with two late goals in extra-time. The final against France was the first all European final since Italy had defeated West Germany in 1982. The game went to penalties and Italy picked a great time to win it's first penalty shootout at the World Cup. Worthy winners, they lifted the trophy for the fourth time..

Host Cities and Stadiums