@Siren: Not only Cannavaro (although he is no doubt the best player of this World Cup), but also Zambrotta, Grosso, Gatuzzo and Perotta. And Schweinsteiger is a good player, although he looks like a squashed Rooney.
BUT that doesnt mean they deserved to win. I tend to repeat myself lately with Taliesin, but as Tal there said, they stopped playing after the first half, and were totally going for one break, one chance, one goal. France played football instead, had chances, nice attacks etc. I hate penalties as much as Zack, its just a lottery. Materazzi is the impersonation of Italian football - beautiful and totally ugly at the same time. The foul on Malouda was very very clever, it almost looked like he didnt touch him, but there was a tiny fast kick, which in such case is enough to bring the player down. Then his goal - fantastic, a great mistake from Barthes. And then the exchange with Zidane. To me it looked like a Nazi torture - looking with a needle for the trigeminal nerve in Zidanes cheek. You saw it, first the verbal exchange, Zidane turns and starts slowly running away and then - bingo - struck the nerve. I hope we will hear what Materazzi said to him, it mustve been a total deep hit. The red card was, of course, deserved, Im not trying to apologize Zidane (although Materazzi should be glad he didnt go for his head). And then Trezeguet, how symptomatic - a player totally neglected by the coach had to drink the cup of sorrow. Congratulations to Italy!