The Headbutt

Lots of things happened at World Cup 2006. There was Germany’s surprise run to the semi-finals, Ronaldo becoming the all time top scorer in World Cup history and Argentina playing some beautiful football. But if you only remember one thing from World Cup 2006, it’s probably Zinedine Zidane headbutting Marco Materazzi.

The World Cup Final was to be Zidane’s last ever professional match. After an illustrious career with footballing giants Juventus and Real Madrid winning La Liga and the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid, two Serie A league championships with Juventus and an Intercontinental Cup and a UEFA Super Cup with both sides. Zidane has won the FIFA World Player of the Year three times, and Ballon D’Or (best European player of the year) once. He was also chosen as the best player of the year in Ligue 1, in Serie A and in La Liga and was awarded the 2006 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball. He is the only player who has scored three times in FIFA World Cup Finals. He truly was a footballing superstar and was Frances talisman guiding them to the final of the the 18th World Cup.

At 8p.m. on the 9th of July 2006 the world was watching, France V Italy in the Olympiastadion, Berlin in front of 69,000. It couldn’t have started any better for the French side. An early penalty kick given away from Marco Materazzi was converted by Zidane with an audacious chip down the middle of the goal that hit the cross-bar bounced over the line and then back out, even the usually ‘ice cool’ Zidane was visibly shaken, yet this was only the start of a huge role that these two would play in this feisty encounter. Even with an early goal the game kept its intensity and at no point were France able to sit back and try to hold on to their lead. Then in the 19th minute Italy struck back with an instrumental Andrea Pirlo, able to pick out Materazzi with an out-swinging corner to pound a header straight past Fabien Bartez. The teams traded blows for the next 70 minutes with Pirlo coming the closest with a trademark free-kick that just bent wide of the post. But at 90 minutes it was still deadlocked. Then came extra time……

The first notable piece of action during the first period of extra time was in the 104th minute when Zidane had a free header at goal from 8 yards out yet an unbelievable save from Buffon the Italian no.1 kept the sides level. The game looked destined for a penalty shoot-out with two tired teams unable to break down two top class keepers but soon it was all to change. After 110 minutes and 22 seconds Zinedine Zidane the much admired talisman lost his cool. To the 715 million viewers it looked as if Marco Materazzi and Zinedine Zidane were jogging out of the Italian penalty area when they had a brief exchange of words but Zidane seemed to carry on past Materazzi, it was all just handbags until Zidane snapped. In a split second he turned around, lunged in to Materazzi and headbutted him in the chest. Zidane stepped away as if only then had he realized what he had done and the burden that he had just handed his team. Athough referee Horazio Elizondo did not see the incident he was informed by the fourth official and therefore immediately sent Zidane off without hesitation. His team-mates looked shell-shocked, but they held on to force penalties for only the second time in a World Cup final after Italy lost to Brazil in 1994. Pirlo, Materazzi, Daniele de Rossi, Alessandro del Piero and Grosso made no mistake as Italy became the most successful European country in World Cup history.

Zidane’s professional career was ended in shameful circumstances. Yet people wanted to know what could make such a world star snap when his country was depending upon him most. Contrary to many peoples beliefs Materazzi said nothing about Zidane’s un-well at the time mother. Two months after the final, Materazzi offered his version of events, claiming that after he had grabbed Zidane’s jersey, Zidane remarked, “If you want my shirt, I will give it to you afterwards,” and he replied to Zidane that he would prefer his sister, but claimed during the interview that he was unaware Zidane even had a sister. Over a year after the incident, Materazzi confirmed that his precise words to Zidane were: “I prefer the whore that is your sister”. After hearing the true story its understandable to feel sympathy for Zidane and the way in which his inspiring footballing career ended.

‘I would rather die than apologise’ – Zinedine Zidane

Video for 2006 World Cup Final https://footygaffer.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/world-cup-2006/