By Sarah Smithon Monday, 10 Jul 2006 Italy lifted the World Cup as they triumphed over France in a dramatic final in Berlin that culminated in penalties and saw French legend Zinedine Zidane sent off.
France had been the dominant team in the match until the second half of extra time, when words were exchanged between Zidane and Italian Marco Materazzi. This prompted Zidane, who put France ahead in the opening minutes with a penalty kick, to head-butt the centre-back in the chest.
It was his last act as a professional footballer and disheartened his team-mates, who were eventually defeated 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out that the Italian team executed flawlessly.
Neither Zidane nor Materazzi has yet spoken to the press about the incident, but some reports claim that the Italian called the Algerian-born midfielder a "terrorist", or told him he should play for his own country.
French coach Raymond Domenech believes that Zidane was provoked, saying that he got rough treatment from the Azzurri during the course of the final.
"When one has to put up with what he had to for 80 minutes and the referee doesn't do anything, one understands," he said. "You can't excuse it but you can understand it."
|
Bingo
