Italy coach Marcello Lippi said winning the World Cup was the greatest moment of his life after their nail-biting penalty shoot-out victory over France.

An emotional Lippi said: "I have to say thanks to the players. This is the most satisfying moment of my life.

"I dedicate the victory to my family. The players have unlimited heart, character and personality.

"Winning the World Cup is the greatest satisfaction that any coach or footballer can ever feel."

He added: "I've had the fortune to win the Champions League and lots of Serie A titles, but I've never felt anything like this."

Captain Fabio Cannavaro, playing in his 100th game for Italy, said his side had achieved what nobody thought they could.

"Germany won the World Cup in Italy and now we have come here and won it," said Cannavaro.

"No one would have imagined it at the start of the World Cup, but we have won so we're happy."

Fabio Grosso struck the winning penalty in the shoot-out after a thrilling 1-1 draw in Berlin.

Gross said: "It's incredibly emotional, words cannot hardly describe it.

"Maybe we still don't realize what we have achieved. We really wanted to win and in the end we made it."

Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso admitted that the scandal rocking Italian football drove the squad on to their World Cup triumph.

"If the scandal hadn't happened I think we wouldn't have won the World Cup," said Gattuso.

"It has given us more strength. This squad showed great heart.

"Maybe it wasn't pretty, but we were hard to beat. We played it one game at a time and with great humility."

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon admitted it was a dream come true to win the World Cup.

The Azzurri held their nerve from the penalty spot as they beat France 5-3 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in Berlin.

Buffon was always confident his side could achieve success and he paid tribute to his team-mates.

"After the extra-time I thought there weren't problems and that, with a little luck, we could win," beamed Buffon. "And so it has been.

"I think to all the times when I was a child, I dreamt to touch the cup and to win it.

"We need luck, but there has been also help from above high.

"Any win can't arrive without the group's strength and the humility that allowed us to win.

"Comparison with Zoff? I don't think so. I always followed my way, other people must decide this."

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro praised his team-mates as his side won the World Cup.

Cannavaro inspired his side to victory as he marked winning his 100th cap in style in Berlin.

The Juventus defender admitted Italy had surprised many people by winning the tournament despite all the turmoil in domestic football.

"Italy have wanted this for a long time and, coming after everything that has happened in the past few months, it was really needed," Cannavaro said.

"It's a fantastic feeling. My son asked to sleep in my bed last night, but I told him he could share it with me and the trophy soon.

"No one would have imagined it at the start of the World Cup, but we have won so we're happy.

"I knew this could be my last World Cup and I asked my team-mates to make sure I reached this milestone here.

"I have to say they arranged it in the best of ways."

Cannavaro was arguably one of the players of the tournament and the defender admitted he even surprised himself with some of his performances.

"I've had good form for two years but even I didn't expect to play this well at the World Cup," concluded Cannavaro.

Francesco Totti has said that he will make a decision on his international future soon following Italy's triumph in the World Cup final.

The 29-year-old playmaker had hinted during the tournament that he would call time on his Azzurri career, but after an emotional night in Berlin he admitted that he was still not entirely sure.

"Why leave the national team?" he said.

"Because I want to stay with my family: there are too many travels, too many camps. I want to be close to them.

"But I haven't decided yet. I'll think definitively about this. I'll talk with my wife and I'll look into my son's eyes."

Totti was thrilled to play a part in Italy's World Cup success after recovering from an injury that had threatened his participation in Germany, and shared the moment with his family.

"I dedicate this win to my family and to my son," he told Sky Italia.

"He was at the stadium for the first time and he saw his father become world champion.

"I gave a good account of myself I think, even if I was not at 100 percent."

Fabio Grosso, who scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out, was also happy to bask in the unexpected glory.

"There is a huge satisfaction and we are happy for our supporters," he beamed.

"At the beginning of World Cup there was a lot of scepticism but we have been able to turn the problems in our football around and use them to our advantage."

Italy defender Marco Materazzi has strenuously denied reports that he called Zinedine Zidane a 'dirty terrorist'.

The 32-year-old was responding to suggestions made by the Paris-based anti-racism group SOS Racism that he apparently used the phrase seconds before the France captain head-butted Materazzi in the chest in extra time.

Zidane was sent off as a result of his actions before the Azzurri went on to defeat Les Bleus 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 extra-time draw in Sunday's World Cup final in Berlin.

SOS Racism claim well informed sources told them of what Materazzi allegedly said to the now-retired Zidane, but the Internazionale player denies making any such statement to the former Real Madrid man.

"It is absolutely not true, I did not call him a terrorist," Materazzi told Italian news agency Ansa.

"I'm ignorant. I don't even know what the word means.

"The whole world saw what happened on live TV."

Marcello Lippi has hinted that he will carry on as coach of Italy after leading the nation to World Cup glory.

The 58-year-old's contract ends later this month and reports in the Italian media suggested he would step down.

But Lippi said: "I have never said I will stop but I have a meeting on Tuesday with the Italian Football Federation so we will see.

"When someone gets to 70 or 68 or 65 they might decide to call it a day but I intend to continue in my work."

Lippi added: "Whatever my next job is, whether it's with the national team or not, I hope to have the same relationship with the players that I have had here.

"It is beautiful to win important titles and when you reach the top, you realise how hard it was to get there and how fantastic it would be to discover new emotions and incentives."

The former Juventus coach was recently linked with a move to Manchester United as a potential successor to Sir Alex Ferguson.

But Lippi was quick to reject the speculation - citing his lack of English as his reason for not moving to the Premiership - and United also denied the rumours.

On the eve of the World Cup final between Italy and France, Lippi said that in "15-20 days" his future would be revealed.

The final finished 1-1 before Italy won the shoot-out 5-3 and Lippi described the victory as "the most satisfying moment of my life".

Marcello Lippi has resigned as Italy head coach just days after winning his country's fourth World Cup in Germany.

The former Juventus boss steps after two years in the post, having succeeded Giovanni Trapattoni following Italy's abrupt exit from the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal.

His decision to leave his post with the Azzurri comes despite calls for him to remain in the position ahead of 2008 European Championship in Austria and Switzerland.

Lippi had made suggestions he would step down from the Italy hot-seat after being questioned by prosecutors regarding the corruption scandal currently plaguing the domestic game.

The 58-year-old leaves the post on the biggest of highs after taking the Italians to World Cup glory following the penalty shoot-out success over France in Berlin on Sunday.

Lippi, who has since been linked with a role at Premiership giants Manchester United, believed the time was right to walk away from his country's national team.

"After the conclusion of an extraordinary professional and human experience during my time guiding this group of players, I believe my role as coach of the national team is over," Lippi said in a statement on the Italian Football Federation (FIGC)'s official website.

"I have therefore announced to the FIGC my wish to leave the post as national coach when the contract expires.

"I would like to thank the FIGC for the trust they have given me in the last two years I have worked for them."

The fate of the four teams embroiled in Italy's match-fixing scandal is set to be revealed on Thursday.

Serie A teams Juventus, Lazio, AC Milan and Fiorentina have been accused of influencing referee appointments and face possible relegation from Serie A.

"The judgement will probably not be made on Wednesday. Apparently it will arrive on Thursday," said an Italy football federation spokesman.

Thirteen of Italy's World Cup-winning squad play for the four clubs involved.

Juve may also be stripped of their last two titles - if they are found guilty of influencing referees.

But the national side's World Cup triumph in a penalty shoot-out on Sunday has sparked calls for leniency.

"Let's do what they did in ancient Rome: whoever has given us prestige and dignity should be treated differently, as one who has done something exemplary," said Italy's Justice Minister Clemente Mastella.

Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, owner of AC Milan, argued: "We can't penalise the fans. The individuals should be punished, not the clubs."

However, Italian Football Federation chief investigator Francesco Borrelli said there wil be no amnesty granted.

"I believe the disciplinary procedure should have no connection with the victory," said Borrelli.

"If we say that a victory should lead to indulgence, then surely a defeat would have brought more extreme measures of severity.

"We are therefore talking about two different things."

Local media speculated that the tribunal's rulings could even come as late as Friday or Saturday, allowing Italians more time to revel in Sunday's penalty shoot-out win over France.

The tribunal in Rome is investigating charges that the clubs, their management, football officials and referees tried to influence the outcome of matches by interfering with the appointment of officials.

In May transcripts were published of telephone conversations between former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi and Italian Football Association officials, discussing refereeing appointments in the 2004-05 season.

Italy's Football Federation's (FIGC) prosecutor Stefano Palazzi also charged 26 individuals for sporting fraud and violating fairness and probity.

The prosecutor has called for Juventus to be relegated to the third division, the other three teams to be demoted to the second division and for all four teams to be docked points next season.

The judge could also hand out fines, bans from European competitions, points deductions as well as relegation and the stripping of titles.

The four clubs have denied the accusations.

A lawyer for Juventus said on Wednesday the club might agree to relegation to Italy's second division, if found guilty.

In 1982, Italy included striker Paolo Rossi in their World Cup squad, despite an earlier ban for his involvement in a corruption scandal.

He went on to be top scorer as they won the tournament in Spain.

Marco Materazzi has issued his own statement about the infamous Zinedine Zidane headbutt.

The Italy defender was the victim of Zidane's violent attack in the dying stages of the World Cup final and he has not emerged unblemished, with speculation rife about what he must have said to provoke such an extreme response.

Numerous different versions have been reported in the media, while the Frenchman has finally broken his silence about the night's events.

Zidane has claimed that Materazzi "pronounced very tough words about my mother and my sister" but the Internazionale defender has again pleaded his innocence.

"I didn't mention anything about religion, politics or racism," said Materazzi.

"I didn't insult his mother. I lost my mother when I was 15 years old and still get emotional when I talk about it.

"Naturally, I didn't know that his mother was in hospital but I wish her all the best.

"Zidane is my hero and I have always admired him a lot."

Fifa have launched an official investigation into the dramatic episode.

Fifa have opened disciplinary proceedings against Italy defender Marco Materazzi over his involvement in Zinedine Zidane's dismissal in Sunday's World Cup final.

France legend Zidane was sent off for headbutting Materazzi during extra time of Italy's penalty shoot-out win over Les Bleus in Berlin on Sunday.

Zidane broke his silence over the events which led up to his attack on Materazzi on Wednesday and stated that the towering Italian defender insulted both his sister and mother.

Fifa are already set to speak to Zidane about his conduct and Materazzi will also have to answer questions over his part in the unsavoury incident.

Materazzi has denied insulting Zidane's mother, but will have to explain himself to a Fifa delegation at a date to be announced.

"As part of the process, Zinedine Zidane will be given the right to be heard by means of a written statement, which must be submitted by 18 July," read a Fifa statement.

"Materazzi will subsequently be sent a copy of the statement so that he can respond to it.

"Both players have been summoned to attend a face-to-face hearing before the disciplinary committee at Fifa headquarters in Zurich on Thursday, 20 July."

Marco Materazzi's agent, Vincenzo Morabito, hopes for a quick resolution to Fifa's disciplinary proceedings against Zinedine Zidane's World Cup final adversary.

Fifa revealed on Thursday they were to investigate the incident in which the Italy defender is claimed to have insulted Zidane's family, to which the now former French international responded with a headbutt.

The indiscretion led to Zidane receiving his marching orders in what was his last professional match and the high-profile exchange has been a hot topic of conversation ever since.

Morabito revealed his client has already apologised to Zidane and could not understand the furore over the incident.

"He wants to answer Fifa's questions and that's it," Morabito told Sky Sports News.

"I just think that it has been exaggerated - the most important thing that happened that night was the reaction of Zidane.

"I love Zidane as a player and I have heard good things about him as a person and I don't understand his reaction - on the pitch there are a lot of things like that, that happen between players.

"It's bad that he ended his career in that way.

"Marco should enjoy the World Cup so it's just a pity there is so much talk about this.

"Hopefully after tomorrow he can relax and then go on holiday so he can forget that and enjoy the World Cup win."

Morabito revealed Materazzi feels sadness over the incident but insists it has been blown out of all proportion.

"I don't think he's upset or angry, I think he's annoyed and he's very sad because there has been a lot said about what he said and didn't say and it's not right," Moribito added.

"What he said is one of the most common things said on a pitch and the reaction was exaggerated.

"Marco has apologised already to Zidane and that should be the end of it.

"The only thing people can talk about at the moment is what Materazzi said to Zidane and I think it's too much.

"Hopefully after tomorrow in Zurich with Fifa, people can forget about it."

"Everything went fine" for Italy's World Cup-winner Marco Materazzi at his meeting with FIFA officials, according to the player's agent.

World football's governing body opened disciplinary proceedings against Materazzi on Thursday in an attempt to discover what he said to Zinedine Zidane moments before the Frenchman head-butted him in the Germany 2006 final.

Zidane was sent off for the incident in extra-time, and Italy won the match on penalties.

Materazzi, who was accompanied by his lawyer and Italian Football Federation external relations executive Sergio Di Cesare, was quizzed for an hour and a half on Friday morning in FIFA's Zurich headquarters.

"Marco was optimistic after the meeting," said the player's agent, Claudio Vigorelli.

"Everything went fine. He gave his version of what happened.

"He will not have to return to Zurich at a later stage."

Materazzi brought the meeting forward from July 20 due to his holidays, and Vigorelli confirmed: "Marco will fly on Sunday to the Maldives.

He then joked: "Do you know where Zidane will spend his holidays? It's just that the Maldives are small islands..."

ei, the scandal case how ar?? decision out yet??

Juventus, Lazio, and Fiorentina have been relegated from Serie A as a result of the match-fixing scandal but AC Milan have survived.

Milan avoided the drop, but will start next season with a 15-point deficit, and have had 44 points taken from their tally for the 2005-06 season.

Juventus have been stripped of their Serie A titles for each of the last two seasons. They will start next campaign with a 30-point deficit.

Fiorentina will start in Serie B with a 12-point deficit and Lazio a seven-point deficit.

The rulings mean that none of the four clubs will be allowed to play in Europe next season.

In addition to the punishments handed to the clubs, a number of the individual directors were suspended.

Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi has been suspended from all football for five years.

Adriano Galliani, who was AC Milan vice-president, has been suspended for one year.

The four clubs will have up to three days to appeal to the Federal Court but a final verdict has to be announced before July 25, when the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) must give UEFA, Europe's football governing body, the list of teams that will compete in the continental club competitions in the 2006/07 campaign.

The scandal was uncovered as a result of a criminal investigation that was launched before the start of the 2004/05 campaign by the Naples prosecutors' office.

Telephone conversations between Moggi and a referees supremo in charge of the appointments of officials during the 2004/05 season were tapped.

Prosecutors based their probe on hundreds of bugged telephone calls between referee selectors, game officials and Moggi.

At the close of trading on Milan's stock exchange on Friday, Lazio shares had dropped 9.68% to 0.28 euros while Juventus went down to 1.45 euros - a fall of 1.15%.

An estimated 500 Lazio fans protested outside Rome's Parco dei Principi hotel as Federal Appeal Commission president Cesare Ruperto read out the verdicts inside.

More than 300 Fiorentina fans met up outside the Artemio Franchi stadium as a sign of protest but it was a different story in Turin with few Juventus supporters turning up at the club's headquarters in Via Galileo Ferraris.

Several Juventus stars now look certain to be up for grabs - including the likes of Patrick Vieira, Gianluga Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluca Zambrotta, Pavel Nedved, Lilian Thuram and David Trezeguet, while Fiorentina's Luca Toni could also be on his way.

The Premiership's big guns will certainly be hovering, while new Real Madrid chief Fabio Capello will be looking to snap up some of his former Juve stars.

Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli has announced his club will appeal against the punishment handed out after the match-fixing verdicts.

The Italian Federal Appeal Commission found Juve, Lazio, Fiorentina and AC Milan guilty of match-fixing with the Turin side hit hardest by the verdict.

Juve have been relegated to Serie B and will start next season with a 30-point deficit, as well as being stripped of the league titles they won in the past two seasons.

Fiorentina and Lazio were also relegated and will start the campaign with 12 and seven-point deficits respectively, while AC Milan retain their Serie A status but will start next season with a 15-point deficit.

Milan have also been docked 44 points from their tally last season.

However, Cobolli Gigli has reacted angrily to the news and vowed to fight the punishment.

"This verdict is unheard of," he said.

"We expected a balanced sentence not only in form but in substance, our expectations were different ones.

"We could have expected relegation to the second division but to be also handed a 30- point deduction is almost like relegation to the third division.

"We will appeal."

Fiorentina also immediately announced their intentions to appeal against the punishment.

"Fiorentina take note of the verdict given by the Federal Appeal Commission but retains it profoundly unjust," said a statement on the club's official website, www.acffiorentina.it.

"Fiorentina wishes to reiterate the absolute correctness of the club and of their own executives.

"Fiorentina will fight with every means possible so that the truth of the facts are revealed."

Milan managed to avoid the drop to Serie B but were also unhappy with the verdict, which means they will not be able to play in the Champions League next season.

"AC Milan retains the decision by the CAF of extraordinary injustice," said a statement on www.acmilan.com.

"We will appeal once the documents of the verdict will be available, with the certainty that the procedure will be radically modified by appeal."

Former Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani was one of several individuals also punished as a result of the investigation.

Galliani was handed a one-year suspension from all football activities while Lazio president Claudio Lotito was banned for three years and his Fiorentina counterpart, Andrea Della Valle, was given a four-year punishment.

Former Juve general manager Luciano Moggi, who was at the centre of the investigation after his telephone conversations with a referee supremo in charge of the appointments of officials during the 2004/05 season were tapped, was suspended for five years.

"I'm not saddened for myself but for the teams involved and for their fans," said Moggi.

Referee Massimo De Santis, who had been due to officiate at the World Cup before becoming embroiled in the investigation, has been suspended from football for four and a half years and former FIGC president Franco Carraro was also handed a four-year suspension.

The decision to strip Juve of their title means the Turin club will not be allowed to play in the Champions League next season, while Lazio are also barred from taking part in the UEFA Cup.

Lotito was fuming following the verdict.

"I think this sentence is provisional as it's based on a theorem which is completely ridiculous," he said.

"I will not make any decisions until a final sentence is given."

Subject to any appeals, the rulings mean that Inter Milan and Roma will gain automatic qualification to the Champions League, with Chievo and Palermo going into the qualifiers for the tournament.

Livorno, Parma and Empoli will be entered into the UEFA Cup.

In addition, Lecce, Messina, and Treviso will avoid relegation to Serie B and keep their places in the top flight as a result of the verdict.

Juventus, Lazio and Fiorentina were all relegated to Serie B by a sports court on Friday, and each club was also handed a points deduction going into the new season.

AC Milan will stay in Serie A, but are out of next season's Champions League, and will start with a 15-point deficit next season.

All four clubs filed appeals before the deadline on Monday evening.

"The appeals process, following the sentences of the tribunal, will start on Saturday morning," appeals court president Piero Sandulli told state broadcaster RAI.

However, by appealing, the clubs risk further punishment as prosecutor Stefano Palazzi is to resubmit his original recommendations, which called for far stronger sentences.

Palazzi had asked for Juventus to be demoted to Serie C, and AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio to be relegated to Serie B with larger points deductions.

Serie A outfit Reggina are to be investigated for match-fixing, in the latest football scandal to come out of Italy.

Neaples' court is to host the investigation into sporting fraud, which relates to six matches from the past two seasons.

Home matches against Brescia, Cagliari and Palermo are under scrutiny, along with away ties at Udinese, Sampdoria and Palermo again.

The Stadio Oreste Granillo outfit narrowly avoided demotion last season, finishing 10 points safe, while they survived by only two points ahead of the relegation zone in the 2004/05 campaign.

Reggina president Lillo Foti, former referees' chief Paolo Bergamo, referees Massimo De Santis, Tiziano Pieri and Andrea De Marco and linesmen Stefano Papi, Sandro Rossomando and Giorgio Nicolai have all been informed.

The result could have even greater significance for the Italian game than the Juventus, Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio verdicts, as a guilty ruling could reveal a depth of corruption running right through the game.