So it's all over for another four long years. Non-lovers of football out there may have been complaining about the length of the tournament, but it's hard not to love the spectacle of the football World Cup. From pre-tournament predictions of the south american challenge of footballing giants Brazil and Argentina, we were left with an all-European final of France v Italy.
Set for a great spectacle and the final bow of maestro Zidane, the world's eyes were on the midfielder who had come out of retirement for a last run at glory and a team whose national football is under scrutiny for corruption. What followed was a good open game with attacking football from both sides. After entering the record books by becoming the fourth man to score in two World Cup finals, Zidane bizarrely ended a great career in disgrace by receiving a red card for headbutting Materazzi after the pair exchanged words.
The Azzurri went on to earn the win after extra-time by keeping their heads during the penalty shoot-out, netting each of their five penalty kicks. Che finale!
