Group A
- GermanyQualified
- EcuadorQualified
- Poland
- Costa Rica
Host Germany won all three group matches in style, joined in the round of 16 by a sharp Ecuador side.
Germany · World Cup archive
2006 World Cup Teams, Knockout Stages and Results
Held across 12 German cities from 9 June to 9 July 2006, the 18th FIFA World Cup concluded with Italy capturing their fourth world title after defeating France 5–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw in Berlin. Captained by imperious center-back Fabio Cannavaro and guided by Marcello Lippi, Italy conceded only two goals across seven matches—an own goal and a penalty—in one of the greatest defensive tournament campaigns in football history.
HostGermany
Dates9 June–9 July
ChampionItaly
Runner-upFrance
Third placeGermany
FinalItaly 1–1 France (5–3 pens)
Tournament teams32
Matches64
Goals147
Top scorerMiroslav Klose · 5
Golden BallZinedine Zidane
2006 World Cup tournament story
The 2006 tournament delivered gripping knockout encounters. Host Germany captivated the nation before suffering a dramatic 2–0 extra-time semifinal defeat to Italy, featuring late strikes from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero. France, revitalized by Zinedine Zidane's midfield artistry, eliminated Spain, defending champions Brazil and Portugal to reach the Berlin final. In the final, Zidane's audacious Panenka penalty was equalized by Marco Materazzi's header. Extra time ended in shock when Zidane was sent off for headbutting Materazzi, and Italy converted all five spot-kicks, with Fabio Grosso scoring the decisive penalty.
Why the 2006 World Cup still matters
Germany 2006 is celebrated as 'A Time to Make Friends' (Die Welt zu Gast bei Freunden) for its festive atmosphere and rebirth of German national team optimism under Jürgen Klinsmann. Fabio Cannavaro's defensive masterclass earned him the Ballon d'Or, while Gianluigi Buffon conceded zero goals from open play across the entire tournament. The tournament also marked the World Cup debut of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
All 32 participating nations
2006 World Cup teams by group
Which teams played in the 2006 World Cup? The field was divided into 8 groups of four. Teams below are ordered by their final group position, with the top two advancing.
Group B
- EnglandQualified
- SwedenQualified
- Paraguay
- Trinidad and Tobago
England and Sweden qualified after an entertaining 2–2 draw featuring Joe Cole's spectacular volley.
Group C
- ArgentinaQualified
- NetherlandsQualified
- Ivory Coast
- Serbia and Montenegro
The Group of Death saw Argentina and Netherlands progress, highlighted by Argentina's 24-pass goal against Serbia.
Group D
- PortugalQualified
- MexicoQualified
- Angola
- Iran
Portugal swept nine points out of nine to top the section, with Mexico advancing in second place.
Group E
- ItalyQualified
- GhanaQualified
- Czech Republic
- United States
Italy topped a demanding group, while debutants Ghana advanced ahead of Czech Republic and the US.
Group F
- BrazilQualified
- AustraliaQualified
- Croatia
- Japan
Defending champions Brazil won all three matches, with Guus Hiddink's Australia qualifying in second.
Group G
- SwitzerlandQualified
- FranceQualified
- South Korea
- Togo
Switzerland topped the group without conceding a goal, while France found rhythm to finish second.
Group H
- SpainQualified
- UkraineQualified
- Tunisia
- Saudi Arabia
Spain dazzled with nine points, joined in the knockout rounds by debutant Ukraine led by Andriy Shevchenko.
Champions, finalists and surprise runs
The teams that defined the 2006 World Cup
Italy: Cannavaro and Buffon's defensive masterpiece
Italy navigated the tournament amidst the Calciopoli domestic turmoil, forging unmatched squad unity under Marcello Lippi.
Ten different outfield players scored for the Azzurri, while Cannavaro and Buffon conceded zero goals from open play across the entire campaign.
Explore the Italy 2006 World Cup squad →France: Zidane's vintage knockout masterclass
After a sluggish group stage, Zinedine Zidane delivered timeless performances against Spain, Brazil and Portugal to lead Les Bleus to Berlin.
His audacious Panenka penalty gave France the lead in the final before his dramatic extra-time ejection stunned the global audience.
Explore France World Cup teams →Germany: the Summer Fairytale rebirth
Jürgen Klinsmann unleashed a young, dynamic side playing fast attacking football, capturing the imagination of the host nation.
After an agonizing extra-time semifinal loss to Italy, Germany defeated Portugal 3–1 to claim a celebrated bronze medal.
Explore Germany World Cup teams →Portugal: Scolari reaches another final four
Portugal displayed tactical toughness, winning the heated Battle of Nuremberg against Netherlands before eliminating England on penalties.
Luís Figo and a 21-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to fourth place, their best finish since 1966.
Explore Portugal World Cup teams →From the groups to the final
How the 2006 World Cup unfolded
Group Stage (32 teams)
32 nations competed across eight groups, establishing clear contenders as Germany, Brazil, Spain and Portugal won maximum points.
Round of 16 & Quarterfinals
Featured the brutal 16-card Battle of Nuremberg between Portugal and Netherlands, and Zidane's majestic dismantling of Brazil in Frankfurt.
Dortmund Semifinal: Germany vs Italy
A 0–0 classic exploded in the 119th minute as Fabio Grosso curled in a wonder strike and Del Piero added a second on the counter.
The Berlin Final
Italy won 5–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw, marked by Zidane's headbutt on Materazzi and Grosso's tournament-winning fifth penalty.
Golden Boot, Golden Ball and decisive performers
Key players from the 2006 World Cup
Fabio Cannavaro
The Berlin Wall delivered arguably the greatest individual defensive tournament ever, later winning the 2006 Ballon d'Or.
Zinedine Zidane
Awarded the tournament Golden Ball after masterminding knockout wins over Spain and Brazil before his dramatic final exit.
Andrea Pirlo
Named Man of the Match in the semifinal and final, leading the tournament with three assists including Grosso's winner in Dortmund.
Gianluigi Buffon
Lev Yashin Award winner who conceded just two goals (an own goal and a penalty) with 27 crucial saves across seven matches.
Miroslav Klose
Won the Golden Boot with five goals, spearheading Germany's attacking resurgence on home soil.
Selected historic line-ups in the game data
2006 World Cup teams in the 7a0 archive
The tournament had 32 participants. The current 7a0 data set contains 16 selected squads, each with real player names, shirt numbers, positions, ratings and legend markers.
- Argentina
- Australia
- Brazil
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Czech Republic
- Ecuador
- England
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Portugal
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- Spain
The list above describes current game coverage, not the complete tournament field shown in the group section.
Published squad guides
2006 World Cup squads in 7a0
🇮🇹 Italy 2006
Champion
Marcello Lippi's fourth-title winners featuring Fabio Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon.
View players, ratings and squad analysis → 🇫🇷 France 2006 Runner-upRaymond Domenech's finalists driven by Zinedine Zidane's maestro tournament run and Thierry Henry.
View players, ratings and squad analysis → 🇩🇪 Germany 2006 Third placeJürgen Klinsmann's exhilarating Summer Fairytale squad with Golden Boot winner Miroslav Klose.
View players, ratings and squad analysis → 🇵🇹 Portugal 2006 Fourth placeLuiz Felipe Scolari's semifinalists uniting veteran Luís Figo and young Cristiano Ronaldo.
View players, ratings and squad analysis →What made the 2006 tournament distinctive?
The edition remains part of World Cup history for several connected reasons:
- Italy's four-star coronation ending a 24-year championship drought
- Fabio Cannavaro becoming the third defender in history to win the Ballon d'Or
- The German Summer Fairytale (Sommermärchen) cultural transformation
- Zinedine Zidane's final career match and dramatic extra-time red card
2006 World Cup FAQ
Who won the 2006 World Cup?
Italy won the 2006 World Cup, defeating France 5–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw on 9 July 2006 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
Why was Zinedine Zidane sent off in the 2006 final?
Zidane was shown a straight red card in the 110th minute of extra time for headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the chest.
Who won the Golden Boot at the 2006 World Cup?
Miroslav Klose of Germany won the Golden Boot with five goals across the tournament.
Who won the Golden Ball at the 2006 World Cup?
Zinedine Zidane of France won the Golden Ball as the tournament's most outstanding player.
How many goals did Italy concede at the 2006 World Cup?
Italy conceded only two goals in seven matches: an own goal against the United States and a penalty by Zidane in the final.
How many 2006 World Cup squads are available in 7a0?
The 7a0 archive features 16 tournament squads from 2006, including champions Italy, France, Germany, Portugal and Brazil.
Who scored the winning penalty for Italy in the 2006 shootout?
Fabio Grosso scored the decisive fifth penalty kick to seal Italy's fourth World Cup title.
Which goalkeeper won the Lev Yashin Award in 2006?
Gianluigi Buffon of Italy won the Lev Yashin Award as the best goalkeeper of the 2006 World Cup.
Can I draft Andrea Pirlo and Zinedine Zidane together in 7a0?
Yes, 7a0 allows you to combine Andrea Pirlo and Zinedine Zidane into a dream midfield orchestrating custom simulations.
What was the score of the 2006 semifinal between Germany and Italy?
Italy defeated host Germany 2–0 after extra time in Dortmund with late goals from Fabio Grosso (119') and Alessandro Del Piero (121').
Sources and editorial review
Editorial review: 7a0.online
Last reviewed: 2026-07-26
Tournament facts are checked against the cited records. Game ratings, position eligibility and tactical descriptions remain independent 7a0 editorial values.
Draft 2006 World Cup legends in 7a0
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