 Unlikely Italy ignore the furore to triumph
07/10/2006
So, Italy have won the World Cup, in a game which will surely be remembered for the desperately sad end to the career of a true footballing great rather than the quality of the play that was on show.
The world champions' victory last night silenced many doubters and could have provided a very interesting return to many fans who took a chance on a World Cup bet with the Azzurri, as they were available at 11/1 in the group stage.
Marcello Lippi's side were occasionally touted as potential tournament winners, on the basis that a squad boasting the quality that Italy's does can never be disregarded, but were never favourites compared to the likes of Brazil and Argentina.
Indeed neither of the sides contesting last night's game were ever widely fancied to come out on top in the 2006 World Cup.
France offered even longer World Cup odds of 25/1 during the group stages following their inauspicious start.
As well as providing the perfect riposte to their critics, Italy's national side have momentarily drawn focus away from the match-fixing scandal currently engulfing their domestic game by lifting the trophy that every player to ever win an international cap has dreamt of.
While last night's game had its interesting moments and offered the dramatic climax of penalties, it will never be remembered as classic.
It will instead be defined by the moment of utter lunacy in which Zinedine Zidane rammed his head into the chest of Marco Materazzi and was dismissed from the field.
It will go down in history as the game that saw the French captain walk shamefully from the arena of professional football under the shadow of a red card, rather than with the pride and self-respect that a career as illustrious as his deserved.
It was an ill-fitting end to a tournament that was at times very entertaining and exciting. Come to an end it has, however, although fans with an interest in World Cup betting need not be worried, as they have the 2010 tournament to look forward to.
Despite their disappointing competition this year, Brazil are once again fancied as favourites with World Cup odds of 4/1, followed by their South American compatriots Argentina and the reigning world champions Italy, both at 6/1. 4
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