• Italy won their fourth FIFA World Cup on 9 July 2006

• Fabio Cannavaro was outstanding during the tournament

• Sixteen years on, Fabio Cannavaro recalls that momentous occasion with FIFA+

9 July 2006 is a date etched in the memory of every Italian football fan. It was a day of redemption after La Nazionale had been eliminated from the previous FIFA World Cup™ by Korea Republic in the Round of 16, and had finished beneath Sweden and Denmark en route to a group-stage exit at UEFA EURO 2004. In the wake of these disappointments both on and off the pitch, Italy's renaissance in Germany resembled a phoenix rising from the flames. The recollection of this turnaround in fortunes undoubtedly inspired Gli Azzurri to glory under similar circumstances in 2021, when the national team led by Roberto Mancini won the EURO after missing out on Russia 2018. Even now, Italy fans are hoping that history can repeat itself and lift their team’s fortunes again, as they still smart from the pain of failing to qualify for Qatar 2022. But let us return to 2006, the year in which Fabio Cannavaro became the poster boy of world football, having been awarded the FIFA World Player of the Year award for his achievements in Dortmund and Berlin. The talismanic captain led Italy to the top of the world with some peerless performances, even earning the nickname ‘The Berlin Wall’ for his defensive prowess in the final and becoming the symbol of a World Cup that restored so much pride to hia nation. Arguably, however, the Italian No5's best display came not in Berlin, but in Dortmund, during the semi-final against the hosts at the Westfalenstadion, where he stifled a succession of German attacks. For many Italians, his most iconic intervention was the tackle on Lukas Podolski in the closing moments of extra-time, sparking a counterattack that culminated in Alessandro Del Piero netting the second goal in a 2-0 victory.

If you quote the line ‘Ancora insiste Podolski’ (Podolski pushes forward again) to any Italian football fan they will instantly bark out "Cannavaro!” in an overexcited tone, imitating TV commentator Fabio Caressa’s legendary reaction to the Italian skipper dispossessing the German forward. It is a fitting tribute to an inspirational stalwart who shed tears of joy on the night of that victory, before going on to lift the World Cup trophy a few days later in Berlin. Even today, the Italian’s eyes light up as he recalls the emotion of having led a formidable squad of stars to the cusp of eternal glory, on a historic evening for football. “What we achieved definitely gets me more excited now than in 2006,” Cannavaro told FIFA+. “At the time there was the euphoria and craziness of getting over the finish line. You can’t take it all in straight away. “Only now, many years later, can you appreciate that history was being written. That event transformed us from regular players into legends. That’s why we get excited about it even today.”

But writing his name into the annals of football history is not the only memory that makes Cannavaro happy. “When you win a World Cup everyone will always recognise you for what you have done, wherever you go,” he explained. “All of this is wonderful, just like it’s gratifying to know that you have brought joy to a whole nation. You remain etched into the history of this sport and the history of an entire country.” When we asked which match he would choose to replay if he had the chance, he replied: “I certainly wouldn't repeat the game against Germany because it was perfect, and to do it again exactly as it happened would be impossible. “Instead, I would replay the match against France. We were too tense, both before and during the game – tired even, to be honest – and we didn't play that well. But we won and that was the most important thing. Nevertheless, I’d like to face them again and win it in regular time.”

Not everything went according to plan in the title-decider against Les Bleus. Indeed, after falling behind to Zinedine Zidane’s spot-kick, the Italians feared that victory would escape them. “After the penalty there was a lot of disappointment, and maybe that was the moment when we were afraid the dream was over,” said Cannavaro. “Then Marco Materazzi's goal put us back on track, and not just in terms of the scoreline. Following that header, our energy increased threefold and we realised that we could lift the trophy on that magical night in Berlin.”

690 Cannavaro and Buffon were the players to play every minute of Italy’s campaign, 690 in total. 33 The centre-back was 33 at the tournament. He returned to the fold once more at South Africa 2010, but it was a vastly different experience for him and Italy. 16 Cannavaro won 16 tackles during the competition. 0 At the 2006 World Cup no opposition player scored in open play against Italy, whose only two goals conceded were Cristian Zaccardo's own-goal against USA and Zidane's penalty during the finale in Berlin.