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Milan – Italians could sense the World Cup was theirs when France’s David Trezeguet smashed his kick against the bar during the penalty shoot-out in Berlin.

Minutes later, when Fabio Grosso converted his penalty to give Italy a memorable 5-3 victory, the nation erupted.

People flooded into the streets and squares in Milan, Rome, Naples and elsewhere as the Azzurri brought the World Cup back to Italy after 24 years.

In Rome, an estimated half-a-million supporters saw the game on giant screens erected at the 2,000 year old stadium Circus Maximus, while about 50,000 gathered in Milan’s Piazza Duomo, with three times as many reported in other squares of the northern city.

‘Congratulations to these boys who never gave up,’ said 1982 champion Marco Tardelli, who was on target when Italy won 3-1 against Germany in Madrid for their previous title in 1982.

‘It is an extraordinary moment for these boys. A moment that I lived and I will not be able to live again. But I can tell you that what they are experiencing is beyond words.’

Actor Luca Zingaretti, who was hired as commentator by public broadcaster Rai, said he was hardly able to speak after yelling so much during the game.

A mild evening meant that many people would go on celebrating well into the night.

© 2006 dpa – Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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