Four Forgotten Italy Players from 2006 World Cup Win | OneFootball

It was on this day 18 years ago that Italy added a fourth star to their kits by winning the 2006 World Cup in a dramatic penalty shootout.

“The rest is history,” as they say, but it might not be the entire history. We can all easily recall Fabio Grosso’s penalty and scream as he looked up towards the heavens. As well as Alex Del Piero’s beautiful curling shot in the semi-final to crush Germany in their own home. Or equally, Francesco Totti’s last-gasp goal over Australia after playing almost half of the match while being a man down.

But as is the case in great battles and moments through history, there were those who fought alongside the heroes, often doing the ‘dirty work’ or holding and solidifying leads when the pressure had mounted.

In Italy’s journey to triumph, it’s necessary to embrace the full picture of a beautiful moment in time. Here are four players we ought to recall when reminiscing upon what is perhaps the best day of an Italy fan’s life.

Simone Barone

He had just two appearances during the tournament, but in that Barone was the depth necessary for a long run. In the minutes he was given against the Czech Republic and Ukraine, the box-to-box midfielder helped shore up Marcello Lippi’s mid-to-low block. He added an extra layer to protect the Italy lead when Mauro Camoranesi was taken off against the Czechs, and rested the instrumental Andrea Pirlo in the commanding win over Ukraine in the quarter-final. There was nothing fancy about Barone’s game, and in this case, that’s what was needed.

Filippo Inzaghi

A club legend and Italy’s sixth all-time leading goal scorer, but not the first one in the pecking order for Lippi’s line-up, as he was then 33 years old. Luca Toni’s rise put the poacher on the bench, yet his sole appearance resulted in a goal against the Czech Republic, making him Italy’s oldest player to score in a World Cup. And what a goal it was, as he rounded 24-year-old Peter Čech to finalise the group stage with a confident win.

Vincenzo Iaquinta

After coming on as a substitute in the 64th minute for Alberto Gilardino in the first match of the tournament, Iaquinta fed off a soft lob from Pirlo, skinning Samuel Kuffour and then putting it around the keeper under 25 minutes after coming on. Iaquinta became a frequent addition, awarded with five more showings that tournament, after scoring the most important goal in his career. He even subbed out workhorse Simone Perrotta with a half-hour remaining in regular time. A classic no.9 who put it all on the line for his nation.

Simone Perrotta

Very much the beating heart of Lippi’s Italy team. On one flank of the sagacious manager’s setup was Camoranesi, pushed forward to add dynamism to the right side. On the other hand, the English-born winger added the grit and determination necessary to win football’s most prestigious trophy. He was the third most-used outfield player with 668 minutes played, behind only Pirlo and Fabio Cannavaro. For his efforts, he’s been immortalised with a statue in his hometown of Ashton-under-Lyne at Tameside Stadium.