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So close

July 10th, 2006 | By: Chriso | 693 Comments »

It wasn’t supposed to end this way. Zidane was meant to go out on another high, the hero, and after the first ten minutes it looked like it might turn like France dreamt it would.

Unfortunately, as the game got deeper into the second half and extratime it looked more and more like penalties, then Zidane lost it.

Nobody know’s what Materazzi said but he obviously knows the right button to press to get a reaction from Zidane, who didn’t hold back at all with his butt.
Whatever the provocation you can’t get away from the fact that Zizou let his team down at a vital moment.

He’s getting support from everyone from Jacques Chirac to Raymond Domenech and the players.
William Gallas said about Materazzi ‘when I see this, I want to smash his face’.

David Trezeguet said Zidane ‘can leave with his head held high. The other one (Materazzi), even if he has won the cup, cannot.’ No doubt who the French players think is the villain in this one.

Domenech was a bit more philosophical saying ‘it was too bad, a totally useless gesture. We regret it and he also regrets it.’ Chirac said Zidane still represented the best of France.

The French squad would probably want to go away and forget the Final for a while but strangely there’s a parade been arranged for them on the Champs Elysees today which Domenech is not happy about. ‘If it was me who decided, we wouldn’t have one’ he said understandably.

Overall, France can look back in a few months time and be proud of getting all the way to the final even if in the end things went sour.

Tags: France, Italy, World Cup Final

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 693 comments.

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By kasets | August 28th, 2006 at 1:03 am

popeye, that was a pretty hurtful thing to say about french and french supporters.

However, that being said it is time to bring these ugly things out into the light and discuss why they are like that. Being politically correct about the issue does a diservice to society.

Posted from Canada

By popeye | August 28th, 2006 at 4:20 am

Racism and France
This week the French president warned his country against the dangers of racism and anti-Semitism, hatreds which have a long, disturbing but still fascinating history in France.

Zidane is partially to blame for his continued culture of racism in france.

Posted from Canada

By france rules | August 30th, 2006 at 5:07 am

On behalf of the French and French football fans I would like to congratulate Italy on a well deserved 4th Championship.

I would also like to say sorry for ignorant posts by people like…..well you know who they are.

again congrats

Posted from Canada

By claude | September 1st, 2006 at 4:29 am

@france rules
Thats very big of you to say but it’s not enough. Admit Italy’s soccer and cultural superiority as well.

Allez

Posted from Canada

By Irishdownunder | September 1st, 2006 at 6:35 am

[isabel | August 20th, 2006 at 4:07 pm

Why wasn’t Zidane arrested when he walked off the pitch for assault?

I am studying law enforcement and will be a police officer shortly. If this took place in Canada and I witnessed it or saw the video replay, I would have busted ZZ ass right away. It would be my duty as an officer.

Does anyone know if charges were laid against Zidane?]

Good to see that police all over the world are keen to waste taxpayers money! It was only a headbutt which was the most exciting part of the final. For me Italy v. Germany was the better game.

Posted from Australia

By isabel | September 2nd, 2006 at 3:20 pm

Just a headbutt? Try assualt.

Best part of the game was Grosso pumping the final PK.

Second best part was Zidanes walk of shame off the field (where I would have been waiting to cuff him and bust his ass if I was there.)

Posted from Canada

By mommo | September 3rd, 2006 at 12:39 am

awesome video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw3j08aEPSs

Posted from Canada

By platini | September 3rd, 2006 at 5:07 am

Whats with all the anti France and Zidane posts? I’m surprised to see it on a French blog.

I agree with most of the comments, just surprised thats all.

Return the GB Zizou, you are embarassing us.

Posted from Canada

By Nef | September 7th, 2006 at 2:08 pm

Would the real world champions please stand up.

3-1 France in a game where Italy looked as much a world champion outfit as San Marino do a football team.

Posted from United Kingdom

By noelle | September 8th, 2006 at 10:15 am

Wow.

Both teams played awesome September 6, but let’s face it: the better team finally won.

Bravo les Bleus.

Posted from Mexico

By Zidanetheking | September 9th, 2006 at 5:35 pm

hi
i cannot belive zidane retired
they need you we need you

Posted from Canada

By trapp1 | September 15th, 2006 at 2:44 pm

Array

Posted from Ukraine

By dindane | September 18th, 2006 at 3:10 pm

what?

Posted from Germany

By pierre | September 30th, 2006 at 12:11 am

I am extremely proud of the French team and their accomplishments this past World Cup.

I am equally ashamed of how Zizou lost his cool during the final possibly costing France the WC. I am also embarassed by the so called France fans who offer endless excuses for ZZ actions.

Allez the true France Fans.

By ALex | October 1st, 2006 at 12:48 am

Zidane is world class player and everyone knows. That is why he got the golden ball. Despite the actions he was THE PLAYER of WC. He has done alot for soccer and France and that why he got off and will be
remembered as one of the best.
We will miss zidane! And will not forget!
http://www.respectzidane.com

Posted from Canada

By gene | October 6th, 2006 at 6:55 am

I applaud the true French fans not the fair-weathered ones.

Posted from Canada

By Luis Eguiarte | October 7th, 2006 at 9:58 am

Zidane is a great player he is a leyend in france and in Mexico
an in all the world he had a great career and he won the world cup whith his team in 1998
with two goals in the final against Brazil one goal he did it with his head and with the same head that he made his team won the world cup of 1998 he end with his career with the dream of win the world cup by second time only becouse MATERAZZI told him that his sister was a bitch i know that that was a great insult but what those are only words for only that he end his career he had no control of his anger so finally he gave MATERAZZI a really strong punch with his head to MTERAZZI and thats how he end his great career full of success everyone thought it would end with the cup in his hands.

By Luis Eguiarte | October 7th, 2006 at 10:02 am

By antonis zonias | October 10th, 2006 at 10:49 am

zizou Italy cats the world cup but not with good football france is best from italy zidane the best

Posted from Cyprus