Italy

In the 58th minute of the 2006 World Cup quarterfinal, Gianluca Zambrotta makes a vital tackle to stop a dangerous Ukrainian attack. With Italy leading 1–0, Zambrotta races back as Ukraine presses forward. Just as the attacker enters the box, he slides in with perfect timing to cleanly win the ball. The tackle snuffs out the threat and sparks a counterattack, reinforcing Italy’s defensive mastery. It’s a turning point that preserves Italy’s momentum and typifies the grit that would carry them all the way to lifting the trophy.