Leading Off

July 17, 2006

Blue Heaven After Italy's fifth penalty kick clinched the nation's fourth World Cup title (page 48) in Berlin on Sunday, the celebration was on for (from left) Luca Toni, Andrea Pirlo, Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluca Zambrotta. Their mad dash followed a moment of madness from French star Zin�dine Zidane (inset), who was ejected for head-butting an Italian defender with the score tied 1-1 in overtime. Rinse Cycles Greeted by a French flag-waver who braved last Thursday's downpour, the Tour de France field pedaled between Beauvais and Caen in completing the race's fifth stage. At the end of the Tour's turbulent first week (page 20), Floyd Landis of the U.S. (inset) stood second overall, one minute behind Ukraine's Serhiy Honchar. Out to Lunge In charging to her first Wimbledon title, Am�lie Mauresmo of France went all-out to defeat Maria Sharapova in the semifinals at the All England Club last Thursday. Mauresmo then beat Justine Henin-Hardenne 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 for her second major championship of the year, while Roger Federer (inset) needed four sets to defeat Rafael Nadal for his fourth Wimbledon crown (page 56). ? For more Leading Off pictures, go to SI.com/photos.