ITALY
WORLD CHAMPIONS 2006
CELEBRATION PACK

The 2006 World Cup Final took place at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany, on the 9th July, as we saw Italy take on France.

 

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The game ignited into life from the kick off, with a penalty being awarded to France in the 7th minute as Materazzi was adjudged to have fouled Malouda, Zinedine Zidane stepped up to the penalty spot and notched in a Panenka past Gigi Buffon, 1-0 France, Allez Les Bleus.

 

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It did not take long for Italy to respond and there was some redemption for Materazzi as he headed home an Andrea Pirlo corner on the 19th minute, to equalise for the Azzurri, Forza Italia.

 

 

The game went to extra time and on the 110th minute, Zidane took offence to something that Materazzi had said, he was clearly not discussing who's goal was better, and Zidane planted his head with full force into the chest of Materazzi, resulting in a red card for Zizou, leaving the pitch in disgrace in what would be his final ever match.

 

 

 

The game went to a penalty shootout, Trezeguet missed the second penalty for France, Italy scoring all theirs, with Fabio Grosso stepping up take the winning penalty, he duly converted and gave Italy their 4th World Cup win.

 

 

Corinthian immortalised the team by releasing the Italy World Champions 2006 Celebration Pack, a 16 figure team pack which features the starting 11, all 3 used substitutes along with 2 vital squad members in Alberto Gilardino and Alessandro Nesta, who were in Italy away kit, done to signify they did not play the final. It is worth mentioning the body pose for Nesta was only used for this figure, every other version would be in a different body pose.

 

 

Gianluigi Buffon was an existing sculpt, as was Gianluca Zambrotta and Fabio Cannavaro, with the other 2 defenders being first time sculpts, which are Fabio Grosso and Marco Materazzi. Grosso would also appear in Series 35 and the Inter Milan Serie A winners team pack, while Materazzi's only other appearance would be in the Calcio 4 pack.

 

 

Italy had some truly formidable midfielders and genuine generational talents, in Francesco Totti, Daniele De Rossi, Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo. This was the first release of De Rossi, he would later appear in the Calcio 4 pack and also Series 40, while Gattuso was the same sculpt as used in Series 32, with the Totti sculpt being the same as seen in Series 34.

 

 

Mauro Camoranesi was the same sculpt as used in Series 33, while we saw an all new sculpt of Simone Perrotta, the player was a part of Series 26 Midfield Maestros, however that was an entirely different sculpt, this Italy version would never be used again.

 

 

Vincenzo Iaquinta was released for the very first time, he would also feature in the Calcio 4 pack and as part of Series 38. Luca Toni was the same sculpt as used in Series 33 and completing the pack is a new sculpt Alessandro Del Piero, which would feature just once more, as part of the Calcio 4 pack.

 

 

Corinthian released the Italy World Champions 2006 Celebration Pack on the 4th of December 2006, with a retail price of just £50,  a total of just 2006 packs were produced. Each pack came with 16 figures, 16 collector cards, an individually numbered certificate of authenticity and a free platinum pack of one of the figures. Only 125 of each Platinum pack were made, making them amongst the lowest issue platinum packs.

 

 

This team pack has always held it's demand and has certainly appreciated in value over the years, not surprising when you look at the pack line up and the fact only 2006 packs were made, and on a personal note it is my favourite team pack released as part of the ProStars range.