The 2006 World Cup in Germany
A booksmusicfilmstv.com surreal take on the footie fest in Germany
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The Italians comfortably won a place in the last 16 against a Czech Republic side, which, though trying hard, carried little goal threat. Less so after the sending off of Jan Polak, on the stroke of half-time, for two bookable offences.

Against the run of play, substitute Marco Materazzi, on for the injured Alessandro Nesta, rose superbly to head in a Francesco Totti corner. The Czechs had seen their best effort, a Pavel Nedved rocket, being saved by Juventus 'keeper Gianluigi Buffon, who also saved the follow-up from Marek Jankulovski.

Italy started the second half brightly, and a Totti strike from long range brought out a full length save from Petr Cech. Nedved forced two more smart saves from Buffon, and Tomas Rosicky was running at the Italian defence with purpose, which was in typically stubborn mood. The Italians, however, missed a number of chances, before Simone Perrotta's pass allowed sub Filippo Inzaghi to beat the offside trap, round Cech, and dump the ultimately disappointing Czech side out of the competition. Despite the bribery scandal back home, Italy have now created an unbeaten sequence unequalled by the Azzurri since before the Second World War.

- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.