Zidane is still the man
The World Cup final was totally exciting!
But while the game was one of the best in the tournament, French superstar Zinedine Zidane's decision to headbutt Italy's Marco Materazzi in overtime has turned out to be the story.
Video. You know what I'm talking about but here's a quick recap. France had a free kick. Materazzi was covering Zidane. Materazzi tries to manhandle Zidane. Zidane complains as he walks away. Materazzi responds. Zidane turns and puts his burnished dome in Materazzi's sternum. Materazzi writhes on the ground in "pain." Zidane regards him with disgust. Red card.
Here's Zidane in attack mode.
Post-heabutt talk with Buffon.
What made this so interesting is that it came, it seems, out of the blue from one of the sport's most composed, classiest players. He never dives or otherwise engages in ignoble theatrics. Never. His celebrations are subdued. You don't see him tugging shirts or talking shit or grabbing balls.
Shit, before, during and after the headbutt he seemed totally collected. Post-headbutt he talked with Italian players and his own. He spoke briefly and calmly with the ref. This was not Mike Tyson. This was Bruce Lee.
If Materazzi used some ethnic slur--I don't even know what slurs exist for Algerians but I'm sure they exist--and Zidane decided headbutting a racist was more important than winning a soccer game, well, I'd listen to that argument.
Anyway, he probably just snapped and it is a shame his career ended like that.
But the Italians at the trophy presentation? All making out with the trophy before it was even presented? Materazzi pretending to hide it in his jersey? It was never even really presented because they were all grabbing at it and licking it before the last of their own players were on the stage. That one guy took off his goddamn pants.
In summary: Overall Zidane's a class act and I hate to see his career end like that but more than one Italian player deserved a headbutt.
But while the game was one of the best in the tournament, French superstar Zinedine Zidane's decision to headbutt Italy's Marco Materazzi in overtime has turned out to be the story.
Video. You know what I'm talking about but here's a quick recap. France had a free kick. Materazzi was covering Zidane. Materazzi tries to manhandle Zidane. Zidane complains as he walks away. Materazzi responds. Zidane turns and puts his burnished dome in Materazzi's sternum. Materazzi writhes on the ground in "pain." Zidane regards him with disgust. Red card.
Here's Zidane in attack mode.
Post-heabutt talk with Buffon.
What made this so interesting is that it came, it seems, out of the blue from one of the sport's most composed, classiest players. He never dives or otherwise engages in ignoble theatrics. Never. His celebrations are subdued. You don't see him tugging shirts or talking shit or grabbing balls.
Shit, before, during and after the headbutt he seemed totally collected. Post-headbutt he talked with Italian players and his own. He spoke briefly and calmly with the ref. This was not Mike Tyson. This was Bruce Lee.
If Materazzi used some ethnic slur--I don't even know what slurs exist for Algerians but I'm sure they exist--and Zidane decided headbutting a racist was more important than winning a soccer game, well, I'd listen to that argument.
Anyway, he probably just snapped and it is a shame his career ended like that.
But the Italians at the trophy presentation? All making out with the trophy before it was even presented? Materazzi pretending to hide it in his jersey? It was never even really presented because they were all grabbing at it and licking it before the last of their own players were on the stage. That one guy took off his goddamn pants.
In summary: Overall Zidane's a class act and I hate to see his career end like that but more than one Italian player deserved a headbutt.
posted by Andrew at 10:13 PM
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