Kaiserslautern, Germany — June 17, 2006
Matchday 2, Group E — vs United States , fear does not always come from the strength of the opponent, the condition of the pitch, or tactical mistakes. Sometimes, it comes from something else entirely—something uncontrollable, unpredictable. Matches that feel cursed. Unbalanced. As if some invisible force is shaping them from the shadows.
That was the feeling shared by many fans…and players.
The morning of the match was calm, warm, clear, a typical German summer day. Italy came into the game in excellent condition after their hard-fought win against Ghana. As always, Marcello Lippi was precise in his briefing: the Americans press high, they are organized defensively, and they rely heavily on set pieces due to their physical strength. Everything he said made sense.
But that day, logic had no place.
Kaiserslautern is located near a large American military base, and that evening, the Fritz Walter Stadium was unusually loud. American noise filled the stadium, sharp and explosive, as if three hundred million voices had gathered in one place. The atmosphere carried a strange signal: something chaotic was about to happen.
The match began without warning.
The United States pressed intensely from the first moment.
Then, in the 22nd minute—who else but the maestro, Andrea Pirlo—delivered a ball from the left side. Alberto Gilardino met it at the far post and headed it into the net.Chaos erupted.
The stadium roared.
But five minutes later, the match became something else entirely.
A corner for the United States from the right. Cristian Zaccardo moved to clear it—but misjudged the touch. The ball changed direction and went into his own net.
1–1.
The American fans exploded with noise.
Zaccardo stood still, staring at the ground, his hands on his hips—the silence of a man trying not to scream. For a moment, everyone looked away… until Captain Fabio Cannavaro came to him and whispered something in his ear.
There was no time to recover. Soon after, another blow hit Italy.
Daniele De Rossi rose into the air beside Fulham striker Brian McBride. His elbow struck McBride's face.McBride fell. Blood poured from a cut above his eye.
A brutal scene.
Then he stood up.
Moments later, the referee showed a straight red card. It was so clear, so undeniable, that even Cannavaro didn't protest. He didn't argue. He simply pushed De Rossi toward the exit.
The discussion ended before it began—the blood had already told the story.
De Rossi's exit was not just from the pitch—it was from the tournament. A four-match suspension. A fine.
Lippi reacted immediately. Gennaro Gattuso came on for Francesco Totti. There was no room for creativity now. Italy was down to ten men, fighting to survive.
Holding on until halftime was not easy.
In stoppage time, Pablo Mastroeni committed a harsh foul and was sent off. Ten versus ten. The second half brought even more drama.
Eddie Pope was also sent off. Nine men against ten. And still—the Americans held on.
Italy attacked relentlessly, but Kasey Keller stood firm in goal. The match ended 1–1.
After the final whistle, De Rossi apologized to McBride. Many called it a classy gesture. Inside the dressing room, calm returned—thanks to Lippi's mentality. The players knew qualification was still within reach.
One match remained. Against the Czech Republic national football team.
Win…