The match showcased a tactical battle between France's 4-3-1-2 formation and Italy's 3-5-2. France's midfield, anchored by Didier Deschamps and supported by Zinedine Zidane's creative play, consistently looked to penetrate Italy's defensive lines. France employed a high press, forcing Italy's defenders into hurried clearances and limiting their possession. Italy, on the other hand, used their 3-5-2 to maintain a compact defense while relying on counter-attacks through the wide players. Gattuso’s work rate in the midfield allowed Italy to disrupt the flow of France's play. Both defenses excelled, with France's Barthez and Italy's Buffon making crucial saves. The tactical discipline from both sides resulted in a goalless draw at the end of regular and extra time, leading to the penalty shootout, where France emerged victorious. Zidane's missed penalty didn't prevent the raucous home crowd from pushing their team over the line, following Barthez’s critical save from Di Biagio.