Here's a scene from probably the 201st minute of the final between Italy and France in Berlin on July 9.

Argentine-born, Italian midfielder Mauro Camoranesi (second from left, with arms behind his head) sat down on a folding chair in the middle of the field at the Olympiastadion with a large pair of scissors. His teammates gathered around him to organise a severe trim for his ponytail.

Camoranesi had promised he would abandon some of his long locks if Italy won the World Cup.

This season's master barber was defender Massimo Oddo (right).

And don't you think the haircut is justified? Have you seen a more untidy hairstyle?

Female fans won't agree. That ponytail makes Camoranesi a heart-breaker.

Oddo has been dubbed Scissorhands for apparently giving a few other mates haircuts earlier in the season. Some of his high-profile victims: Marco Materazzi, Andrea Barzagli, Gennaro Gattuso.

Coach Marcello Lippi may be the next. He joked last week that he may go bald if Italy lifts the Cup.

Photograph: Torsten Silz/AFP/Getty Images

• Football Fiesta: Complete coverage