The Italy defender converted the decisive penalty in a shootout Sunday to win Italy its fourth World Cup.It's not the first time Grosso - whose name translates to large - has lived up to his name.Grosso earned the penalty that Francesco Totti converted in the final minute of the 1-0 second-round win over Australia and scored with one minute of extra time left in Italy's 2-0 semifinal victory over Germany.Grosso had a quiet game before he directed his penalty shot perfectly to the right side of France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, giving Italy a 5-3 win in the shootout after a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes."I thought about so many things from the time I walked from midfield up to the penalty spot that I don't even remember them," Grosso said. "If I have to think about that's happened to me, I'd have to say I'm drunk."Grosso's wife is due to give birth to the couple's first son in September and it's sure to be a festive summer in the Grosso household.At 29, Grosso is another of Italy's late bloomers like striker Luca Toni, his former teammate at Palermo.Grosso was a playmaker when he joined a Perugia team coached by Serse Cosmi in 2001.Cosmi took one look at the six-foot-four Grosso, saw how useful his long legs could be on the flank and made him into a left back.Grosso still struggles on defence occasionally, and was benched after a less than stellar performance in Italy's opening 2-0 win over Ghana. He regained his starting spot when Cristian Zaccardo scored an own-goal in Italy's second game against the United States.Offence has never been a problem.Born in Rome, Grosso has always played for provincial clubs - Chieti, Perugia and Palermo - and has never played in the UEFA Champions League like many of his teammates.That should change next season. Grosso moved to Inter Milan a few weeks ago
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