fossil_digger besides the fact that if it was as you say for us it could be even more a great satisfaction to win in such a way, I have to observe that during the first 45 minutes Italy dominated over France, and apart for that unclear penalty (Materazzi didn't touch the french player, it is clear from the back view, but I admit that the referee could give the penalty) France did not do anything, whilst Italy scored a real goal, almost scored another one, and also hit a bar.
During the second 45 minutes France plaied better then Italy...or better, Hanry plaied better then Italy, but they never, I mean really never, shoot successfully in goeal, and Buffon didn't have to do any particularly important safe.
During theextra times the to team plaied similarly, maybe a little better France which in fact shoot the only dangerous shoot toward the italian goal during the whole match, it was a good one, but Buffon saved it even better, as witnessed by the picture below:
[www.plus613.com]
The fact that even when France was attacking they did never produce any dangerous action proves also that if on the one hand in some moments of the match France attacked well, on the other hand, at the same time the Italy defended better then how France was attacking....it is a matter of point of view, here in Italy we think that in football doesn't count only attacking, but also defending, and in fact tradictionally we have some the best defenders and goal keepers of the world, and as witnessed by the fact that we won 4 times the world cup, this is not necessary a bed characteristic for a team that wants to win.