5 famous World Cup penalty misses

#1 David Trezeguet (2006)

David Trezeguet

Although the last three have all gone to extra time, just two World Cup finals have been decided by a penalty shootout. The first of those came in 1994 when Baggio missed his spot kick, and the next came in 2006.

Very few people remember the 2006 final for its penalty shootout though. It is best remembered for Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt on Italy’s Marco Materazzi, for which he received a red card, and saw his illustrious career end in disgrace.

Zidane had given France the lead from the spot early on, before Materazzi headed home an equaliser. The game’s defining moment came in extra time when the two goal scorers clashed, and we went to penalties.

In finals, it is always the ones who miss that are remembered. Trezeguet was the only man to miss during the shootout, stepping up second for France and smashing his shot against the bar. Fabio Grosso scored the winner, as the World Cup was won by Italy.