Saturday 8 July
Hosts win bronze
Germany finished 3rd with a convincing win over Portugal. Germany created the first chance of the match in the 5th minute when a dangerous volley from Kehl went wide of the post amid claims for hand-ball. Ten minutes later Pauletta Tried to side-foot the ball past Kahn from inside the box, but the German keeper foiled his attempt. At the other end Ricardo tipped over a chip from Kehl in the 20th minute, and managed to get behind a powerful Podolski free-kick in the 25th minute. Simao's free-kick in the 51st minute was inches over the bar, but in the 56th minute Schweinsteiger beat the keeper with a swerving shot from outside the area. Three minutes later Lahm met a cross on the volley, but his effort flew over the bar. In the 61st minute Schweinsteiger's low free-kick from the left was deflected in for an own-goal. Portugal reacted swiftly and Deco brought a good save out of Kahn 2 minutes after the goal. Some good one-touch football involving substitute Figo in the 77th minute ended with Ronaldo shooting straight at Kahn, giving Germany possession from which Schweinsteiger unleashed a brilliant shot to put the match beyond any doubt. A cross in the 82nd minute almost resulted in an own goal, but Kahn saved with his leg. A minute later he kept out a free-kick from Ronaldo despite having initially gone the wrong way. The German goal was finally breeched when Nuno Gomes met a perfect Figo delivery with a diving header in the 88th minute to score a consolation goal for Portugal. (Germany 3 Portugal 1)

Sunday 9 July

Italy crowned as Zidane loses his head
The World Cup was won by Italy on a night which saw Zidane retire with a red card. It was Zidane who made the first impression on the final when he smashed his 7th minute penalty kick against the crossbar and over the line. Materazzi who was responsible for the penalty, caused Buffon further worries with a back-header which went just wide of the post in the 9th minute, but 10 minutes later he got up high to head home the equalizer from a corner-kick. In the 35th minute Toni nearly scored a carbon copy goal, but his effort came off the bar. France started the 2nd half positively, but Henry failed to finish off his 46th minute run into the box. Four minutes later after showing great balance and determination with another run in the box, his final pass was cleared. Henry had his shot blocked by Buffon in the 63rd minute and Pirlo came close for Italy with a free-kick in the 76th minute. After some skilful play by Ribery in the 99th minute his final shot trickled past the post. A powerful header from Zidane in the 103rd minute was brilliantly palmed over by Buffon, but in the 111th minute Zidane used his head to ram into Materazzi in an off-the-ball incident which saw him end his glorious career in disgrace. The 10 Frenchmen took the match to penalties, but the Italians could not be stopped, and when Trezeguet hit the bar the Italians finished off the job to lift the World Cup for the 4th time. (Italy 1 France 1. Italy win on penalties)