
The team coach struggles to make its way back to the hotel through a sea of delighted Italian supporters


The day's dramatic events take their toll on the younger members of the Italian party as they arrive at their base


Meanwhile on the other side of the Atlantic the Italian population of Chicago celebrate the win on Harlem Avenue


Italy's captain Fabio Cannavaro holds one last news conference in Germany before flying back home


German fire crews salute Italy's flight as it taxis away from Dusseldorf airport before heading back to Rome


The Frecce Tricolori provide their own tribute to Italy's triumphant team with a colourful fly past at Pratica di Mare


Cannavaro is the first player to emerge and he relishes the opportunity to lift the World Cup on home


Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon waves to fans while proudly displaying his World Cup winner's medal


There is chaos in the streets as overjoyed Italians surround the team's bus as it makes its way from the airport


President Giorgio Napolitano holds a reception for the squad at the Presidential Chigi Palace


An estimated 500,000 people line the streets to see the victorious team's open-top bus parade


Maverick defender Marco Materazzi, who played such a pivotal role in the final, holds the trophy aloft


The excitement intensifies and a mammoth crowd now awaits the players at the Circus Maximus


Thousands of Italian flags are waved - the crowd gets even larger as the bus carrying the players gets closer


And Cannavaro gives the crowd what they have waited for and dreamed about - the sight of him parading the World Cup
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