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The Azzurri won the FIFA World Cup for the fourth time after holding their nerves in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. For their performances in the group stages, Round of 16, quarter-finals and semis, football fans all over the world would agree that Marcello Lippi’s side were worthy winners of the competition.

The 2006 FIFA World Cup Germanyâ„¢ kept billions entranced around the globe. The first FIFA World Cup in a reunited Germany, it proved a resounding success, revealing the host nation as a vibrant, colourful and cosmopolitan place.

Final: Italy - France 5-3 P.S.O.

Auf Wiedersehen Germany - Wamkelekele eMzansi Africa!

PSG investigated for alleged transfer irregularities

Troubled Ligue 1 club Paris St Germain have been placed under investigation for alleged transfer irregularities, their lawyer told Reuters on Thursday. The club are suspected of having paid undeclared bonuses to players through agents in relation with some 15 transfers from 1998 to 2003, lawyer Patrick Maisonneuve said. Among the transfers investigated is that of Brazil’s Ronaldinho, who joined PSG from Brazilian side Gremio in 2001 before moving on to Barcelona in 2003.

Johannesburg stadium in World Cup litmus test 

Soccer City, the famous Johannesburg stadium chosen to stage the final of the 2010 World Cup, is the scene for a potentially explosive match on Saturday before closing down for a major revamp. The 20-year-old stadium, one of the largest in the continent, is expected to be packed with some 80,000 fans of South African arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, who will battle it out in a fitting adieu to the local “mecca” of football before it undergoes a 221 million dollar refit. Saturday’s encounter is being seen as a litmus test for South African football officials and police who have pledged to do their all to ensure a model first World Cup in Africa and minimise the possibilities of either violence or hooliganism.

Spanish football giants deny alleged link to doping affair 

Spanish champions Barcelona and other top flight clubs have denied a report in French newspaper Le Monde that they used the services of doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, who is at the centre of a blood doping affair. Real Madrid, also cited in the report, did not immediately comment while two other first division clubs named, Real Betis and Valencia, both issued denials. “FC Barcelona categorically denies the information published by French paper Le Monde regarding a supposed and non-existent use of the services of Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes at the club and a supposed and non-existent link with (the club’s) preparation plans for the past season,” the club said on its website.

FIFA confident about 2010 World Cup preparations

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he was confident that South Africa would be ready to stage the World Cup in 2010 despite concerns over delays in the building of new stadiums. He said the remaining five stadiums would be finished by October 2009. With the exception of Cape Town’s stadium, which is involved in a planning dispute, Jordaan said building work was expected to be under way on all sites by the first quarter of 2007.

The executive committee has now finalised the dates for the World Cup finals which will take place between June 11 and July 11, 2010.

It also confirmed that the allocation of World Cup places to the continental confederations would remain the same as for the 2006 World Cup with 13 qualifying places available for European nations and five available to African countries.