Zidane vs Materazzi: When you think of Zidane, there a quite a couple of things that come across your mind. His skills, his tenacity as a player, the way he glided across the pitch, and his accolades with the French team. Also, you think of his success as the Head Coach of Real Madrid, when the Los Blancos won the UEFA Champions League three times on the trot. But, the very first thing that pops into your mind is his headbutt against Marco Materazzi in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final, between France and Italy. Now, close to 17 years after the incident, Materazzi has shared exactly what transpired between the two. Follow Football LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN
Despite both players occasionally dropping hints, the exchange of words between Zidane and the Italian center-back has long been shrouded in mystery. The former Real Madrid manager refuted the claim in an interview with L’Equipe, saying that the abuse was directed at his sister rather than Zidane’s mother Malika, who was the target of the rumoured remark from the former Inter Milan star.
Zidane said, ‘He provoked me by talking about my sister Lila. I’m not proud of it, but it’s part of my career. At that time, I was more fragile. He didn’t insult my mother, but he did insult my sister.’
Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt on Marco Materazzi in extra time of the 2006 FIFA World Cup final 🇫🇷🧠🇮🇹
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Materazzi reveals the exchange between him and Zidane
Materazzi was able to clarify what he had said about the former World Cup winner’s sister 17 years after the incident. Speaking to Italian Football TV, Marco said, ‘You know the NBA? Trash talking – my trash talking nothing, very minimal, nothing. He offered me his jersey, I say, “No, I prefer your sister”.’
Zidane had earlier in the game scored a daring Panenka penalty to give France the lead, but not only did his dismissal bring an unjustified end to his career for Les Bleus, but also prevented him from taking part in the subsequent penalty shootout after Materazzi had tied the score for Italy.
Speaking after the event, in a widely-viewed solo interview televised on Canal Plus, the Juventus and Real Madrid legend apologised but said he ‘didn’t regret’ the action. Zidane said, ‘It was seen by two or three billion people on television and millions and millions of children were watching. ‘It was an inexcusable gesture and to them, and the people in education whose job it is to show children what they should and shouldn’t do, I want to apologise.’
He continued, ‘You hear them once and you try to move away. But then you hear them twice, and then a third time. I am a man and some words are harder to hear than actions. I would rather have taken a blow to the face than hear that.’
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