Italy's Prime Minister Romano Prodi paid tribute to the Azzurri as politicians from all parties united to celebrate their team's penalty shootout win over France in the World Cup final on Sunday.

Italy's Prime Minister Romano Prodi (C) waves as he leaves the stadium with his security personnel at the end of their World Cup 2006 semi-final soccer match against Germany in Dortmund July 4, 2006.[filephoto]

"It was a victory won after a fight until the last drop of blood," Prodi told state broadcaster RAI.

"It seemed incredible the match could go down to penalties and that the difference between the teams could be a ball hitting the post," he said, referring to the penalty miss by French striker David Trezeguet that settled the match.

The country's president Giorgio Napolitano thanked the players for "restoring a sense of national pride."

Italian football has been rocked recently by a match-fixing scandal involving four clubs from the top Serie A division.

Champions Juventus risk relegation to the third division or lower while AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio face starting next season in the second division with points deducted.

In the run-up to the final, Justice Minister Clemente Mastella suggested an amnesty for all the accused if Italy won the World Cup -- a call he repeated after the final whistle.

"The idea of (Gianluigi) Buffon, (Fabio) Cannavaro and (Alessandro) Del Piero playing in Serie B or C next season isn't acceptable," he said.

Other politicians, however, have dismissed the amnesty idea.

Italy's victory was also celebrated by the Northern League, a party which aggressively advocates autonomy for the north of the country.

At the start of the tournament the party's newspaper, La Padania, urged readers to support anyone but Italy.

"This shows what the whole country can achieve when it works together," said Roberto Calderoli, the party's Minister for Reforms.