(By CRI reporter Xiaohong from Stuttgart)

It was only the second time the World Cup final was decided by a penalty shoot-out. Italy, who lost the last penalty kicks to Brazil in 1994, withstood the pressure to rise as the final winners of 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Both teams ended 1-each in full-time match and kept the stalemate in the extra time when France was reduced to only ten men on the pitch.

French captain Zinadine Zidane was sent off the pitch with a red card as the French veteran headbutted Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest after the two exchanged words while walking down the field.

Earlier, Zidane, in his last capping for France, scored the first goal at 7th minute with a penalty kick. The goal has put him in the rare league of scoring at two World Cup finals. Only three other players, including the legendary Pele, had demonstrated such great performance.

With Italy winning the 2006 World Cup final 5-3 against France, the one-month-long football extravaganza has reached its end.

Fans have enjoyed a great lot of the world's best football shows.

A Swiss fan says, people in Switzerland had been indulged themselves in the football fever in the past month.

"All over restaurants where you can watch TV, you can drink. And small parties and big parties. They're all about football."

Another fan from Australia hailed the tournament fantastic.

"Pity that Australia didn't go a bit further. But we're happy. We're very happy."

They're all looking forward to the next World Cup in 2010 when the football showpiece goes to Africa for the first time.

Xiaohong, CRI News, Berlin, Germany.