Italy beat France in penalty shootout in final

BERLIN, July 9 (Reuters) Italy beat France 5-3 on penalties in the World Cup final after the the two teams finished level at 1-1 after extra time in a dramatic encounter in which French playmaker Zinedine Zidane was sent off.

David Trezeguet hit the bar with his spot kick and the decisive penalty was scored by Fabio Grosso.

Zidane had given France the lead from the penalty spot as early as the seventh minute but Italian defender Marco Materazzi equalised with a header just 12 minutes later.

Zidane was shown the red card in the 111th minute after he head-butted Materazzi in the chest in an off-the-ball incident not seen by the referee. After fierce protests by the Italians, the referee consulted his linesman and sent Zidane off.

It was only the second shootout at a World Cup final. Brazil beat Italy on penalties after a 0-0 draw in 1994.

REUTERS PDS RAI0211