The man who scored Italy's most dramatic World Cup goals

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 119th minute of the 2006 World Cup semi-final, Fabio Grosso struck a curling shot that stunned Germany. Just days later, he stepped up to score the winning penalty in the final. His career is a study in high-stakes impact and the volatile nature of football management.

Grosso's international legacy is defined by two moments of extreme pressure during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In the semi-final against Germany, he scored a 'magnificent' curling left-footed strike in the 119th minute to secure a victory. He followed this feat five days later by converting the winning penalty in the final against France, helping Italy secure their fourth world title. However, his career has also been marked by controversy, including accusations of diving during a round of 16 match against Australia, which he later admitted to 'accentuating' due to exhaustion.

As a player, Grosso was a versatile left-back and winger who navigated the top tiers of Italian and French football. He won titles with Inter Milan, Lyon, and Juventus. His journey included a notable stint at Palermo, where he helped the club earn promotion to Serie A and achieve a successful sixth-place finish in their debut season. Despite his success on the pitch, his transition to management has been characterized by rapid turnover, with multiple roles at clubs like Brescia, Sion, and Lyon ending in quick dismissals.

The volatility of his managerial career highlights the difficulty of translating on-field success to the dugout. Since 2013, he has managed teams across Italy and Switzerland, experiencing both promotion successes—such as leading Frosinone to a Serie B title in 2022–23 and Sassuolo to Serie A in 2025—and swift sackings. His most recent tenure at Fiorentina lasted only a few weeks in 2026 before he was dismissed following three consecutive losses, illustrating the thin margins of modern football leadership.

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