World Cup 2006 - held in Germany as the eighteenth overall World Cup. In the final tournament, which began June 9, thirty-two teams competed.

The festive opening ceremony took place at the sold-out stadium in Munich. Among the dozens of celebrities missing German President Horst K�hler, who gave the opening speech, the legendary Brazilian footballer Pel�. He accompanied the models Claudia Schiffer brought on stage gold trophy. The ceremony was broadcast worldwide was seen half billion viewers. On the first day of the tournament started Germany's domestic matches with Costa Rica (4: 2) and Poland with Ecuador (0: 2).

World Champions 2006 Italy became footballers who in the finals at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin beat France. In normal time while the match ended in a draw 1: 1. When the denouement did not bring renewal, had to decide penalty.

Third place competed for Germany and Portugal. The bronze medal for domestic fired Bastian Schweinsteiger, who arranged all three goals in the Portuguese gate (two scored directly, one can cross into his own gate crashed Petit). The opponent was able to answer in 88 minutes, which saved the honor of the Portuguese Nuno Gomes after the exact center of Lu�s Figo.

The best scorer of the tournament was declared a German footballer Miroslav Klose, who scored five goals. The best player then became the Frenchman Zinedine Zidane. It was he who, beside the beautiful moments of football took care of one ugly when the finals intentional headbutting Materazzi chest down Italian and was expelled.

The Czech team led by coach Karel Br�ckner has failed to advance from the basic group and generally finished in twentieth place.