SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums College, Pro & International Soccer A Victory for France

France, best known for it's capitulation to Germany under the Vichy Government and the ill fated Maginot Line, emerged head held high tonight from the finals game of the world cup despite their loss in pk's to the Italians. The moment of greatness was not Zidane's soft 7 minute pk which put them into the lead, but rather Zizou's late game departure on a well deserved red card. We will probably never know what series of cultural and racial invectives Materazzi uttered to rile the Frenchman, but I'd bet his Kabyl roots and his mother were both referenced by the vile slick haired Italian. Zidane could have placed himself above this cheap trick -- he'd already been beaten up during an entire game where France spent their good will with the refs at minute 7. Zidane should have risen above this: he had to have realized how close to pk's the game had moved and known his role as the French team's leader with Henry out of the game. But in one beautiful, senseless, hopeless, righteous moment of retribution, the 34 year old Marseillais dean of French soccer, one of the smartest players to ever play the game, struck back . In front of 80,000 fans and the whole world: BAM. Hulk Hogan or Bruce Willis couldn't have done it better... That the cowardly side judge claimed to have seen it at the time it occured is belied by the delay we all witnessed between the event and the final red card. FIFA should just as well decide to determine all matches based on the Jumbotron's instant replay and forever change the pace of the game.

But in that instant between insult and blow, France stood tall. They lost one of the best finals ever, but Zidane did what was right.

With all the man has done in soccer to bad he is going to be remembered for a head butt in the world cup finals and the question..Did Zidane cost France the chance to win the world cup?

I wonder if any of the other "French" players heard any cultural or racial invectives? If so, they certainly handled themselves more professionally.

..just unreal. Zidane is straight gangsta..

Check out the video.

Move the time to 1:35..repeat..repeat..repeat.

Regardless how the red card was delayed or given late, it was absolutely justified under any excuse. But, his red card had very little, to no, effect on the outcome. He played all but 7 minutes of 120.

Bottom line is Zidane is one of the best players to ever play and won't be remembered for his head butt. He's a great player who made a mistake....that's it. It didn't cost his team anything. Be a purist and appreciate how fortunate you are to witness his career, club and country.

To me, two things come to mind from today: 1) Italy are champions for the 4th time and 2) Zidane solidified his greatness, this Cup and career, with the best ever!

laplage,
Zidane did what was right? Hurting his team is right? Giving in to harsh words in such a big game is right? I am sure thru all the club matches and even during the grand Cup, there was trash talking and even racial/personal language used towards numerous players. But to react like that was foolish. If he is the professional as professed by so many, and the 'great one' he should have kept walking.
But it was a great game by itself, even with Zidane's actions. Robbery's near miss and Zidane spectacular header miss in OT, coupled with Italy's incredible defense with Buffon and Cannavaro and the Italian passing made this an enjoyable match, even with the PK determination. I am glad those soccer haters out there can't appreciate the sight of grown men hugging and crying at the end.
I had no favorite in the Cup, but that Italian celebration gave me goosebumps.

It was just a little head tap away from play. You're not so naive, 2004s, to think players don't secretly, surreptiously take out ankles and knees of opposing players away from the spot light of the ball. Whatever Materazzi said was so odious that nobody will repeat it. Sure Zidane was foolish to act as he did, and yes it hurt his team. If he had it to do over he'd try and react differently, but in real time he didn't. A great game to watch.

lpaf

ps: And I don't believe for a second the "fourth official" made the call of the foul as he saw it on the field.

I'm pretty sure the French people will get over this..considering Zidane was/is just magic with the ball.. and..they've wanted to see a Frenchman put his skull into an Italian's brestbone for about ummm.. 60-70 years?

LED --

If you look closely in the play just before the unfortunate incident, Materazzi gave Zidane a really hard tittytwister. Look for yourself.

Zidane wins World Cup's best player award, despite red card!!!

i would like to know what materazzi said, i was kinda shocked when i saw it. the card was certaintly deserved. its unfortunate to see zidanes career end on that note. i didnt realize he had a repuatation for being a hot head apparently hes headbutted people before. i dont think it really hurt france much though. sure it prevented them from pushign up as much in the last 10 min but the way that game was going they werent likely to score. and surely he would have taken a pk but trezeguet would still have taken one also. i guess he atleast went out with his pride, maybe he thought the headbutt would have fired the french side up especially if italy had been calling out insults the whole game.

There is a Spanish report that Materazzi called Zidane's sister a w-hore at least twice. (professional lip readers or something)

I don't think there is any doubt that Materazzi provoked Zidane.. and I'd like to say I can't imagine doing that myself..but I won't be so naive as to pretend I could even phathom being in that situation.

Zidane is one of the best in the history of the game..who are we to judge his actions? It was obviously a red card..and he got his card.. does that taint his legacy.. of course not!

This is why the world loves soccer..you can't simulate this kind of global drama..no matter how much media and money the US has.

I've had players bite my ear and spit into the side of my face whilst waiting for a corner to come in so if it is true about what Materazzi said it does not surprise me.
Besides, Zidane's sister may well be a *****!!

Don't be talking 'bout nobody's sister, Bazza. And I'd be watchin' out for bald French guys if I wuz you.

wasn't the first time Zidane got red carded for a headbutt....a few years when he was playing for Juventus he head butted a guy from west ham(i think....?) and got ejected for it.

L-E Dude:
Yes, still talking about soccer!!

Its about time somebody from France manhandled somebody.....I thought most French people were lovers not fighters

If you look at the game replay you will see that Zidane was frustrated all night with tight coverage and fouls, in addition to being in pain with his shoulder. He just lost it with that comment. Zidane is a beast and the beast came out of him during that foul. It is a shame he could not have controlled himself better. But no matter what name you are called or how abusive, you have to keep control.

Yes, France has one victory. The rest of the French team gets to rag on Matarazzi that a French guy in yellow shoes kicked his ass.

Not mine, but I think it's hillarious.

After reviewing the HD replay over and over again I must concur with French coach Raymond Domenech's assessment of the Zidane affair. "But it's a shame. He (Materazzi) did a lot of acting for such a big man, a gust of wind made him fall over." Replay shows that Zidane actually did not make contact with the Italian's chest. He endured the insults thrown in his direction, outpaced Materazzi by several steps, then turned and faced him. In a sudden calculated move he brought his shaved cranium to within millimeters of the Italian's chest, actually making contact with his jersey before snapping his finely tuned neck back. The Italian, sensing the underhanded opportunity he had sought by his persistant insults was at hand, seized the moment and threw his body violently backward and to the ground. A conspiring 4th FIFA judge then claimed to have seen the whole thing but it took him 55 seconds to make the call to the center ref who pulled the red card. A lone gunman with a high powered rifle and scope lay on the floor of a nearby German textbook repository with Zidane in his cross hairs in case the plot failed, but his services were, of course, not needed.