Zidane sent off in extra time of World Cup final for headbutt

Yahoo News ^ | 9 July 06 | JEROME PUGMIRE

[SkyPilot]

BERLIN (AP) -- Zinedine Zidane cut short his dazzling World Cup and closed his career with an ugly head butt -- and a loss.

The France captain was given a red card for slamming the crown of his bald head into the center of Italy defender Marco Materazzi's chest after the two exchanged words while walking down the field in extra time.

The game was tied 1-1 when Zidane was sent off, head bowed, in the 110th minute Sunday. Without their sharpshooting captain, France couldn't unlock Italy's defense and went on to lose in a shootout, 5-3.

Zidane's strike was clearly intentional, and referee Horacio Elizondo of Argentina briefly consulted with his assistant referees before showing the 28th red card of the tournament. The previous World Cup record of 22 red cards, set in 1998, was broken before the quarterfinals round began.

Zidane, whose sparkling play carried France much deeper into this tournament than anyone expected, previously said he would quit soccer when it was over. He passed coach Raymond Domenech as he walked off but did not look at him -- then continued past the golden World Cup trophy and disappeared into the tunnel, his head still down.

Earlier in Sunday's match, he had given France the lead with a seventh-minute penalty -- his 31st goal for France and third in a World Cup final. Zidane was treated for what appeared to be a shoulder injury in the 80th minute; trainers took him off but he returned, holding his right arm awkwardly and wincing in pain.

Minutes before Zidane was sent off, France striker Thierry Henry was substituted for in favor of Sylvain Wiltord. In the first half, Henry bumped his head in a collision and crumpled to the ground, then went briefly to the sideline and returned.

Eight years ago, Zidane was red-carded for stomping on an opponent while playing Saudi Arabia. At this World Cup he collected two yellow cards and was suspended for France's third group match against Togo.

Five years ago, Zidane was also red-carded for butting Jochen Kientz in a Champions League match for Juventus against Hamburger SV. A year later, his volley gave Real Madrid its ninth European title.

Zidane headed in two goals when Les Bleus beat Brazil 3-0 for the World Cup title in 1998.

[GAB-1955]

So, what's wrong with a team of immigrants who are citizens of that country? We won't be screaming foul when Freddy Adu plays for the U.S. in 2010, will we?

[GAB-1955]

People do stupid things when they're tired and hot and worn out. That's one of the good things of soccer; only the fittest physically and mentally can win such a game. Italy did it to Germany in the last two minutes of overtime in the semifinal. Italy showed it was fitter than France in the penalty kick phase.

There is something about soccer that brings out the inner lout (I was going to use a word that rhymes with gas toll) in many of us. Mazzelli has a rep of being a dirty player himself. He was just smarter than Zidane when it counted.

I have no problem, BTW, with Zidane's family being from Algeria. As far as I know, he was born in France.

[soccer_maniac]

video clip

It's hard to fit 100,000 troops on a single aircraft carrier.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Zidane is an idiot for that, it will hurt his chances to endorse anything outside of France

[SkyPilot]

whereas I would be checking ID on the entire "French," squad, all of whom looked like they had their first bowl of bouillabaise last week, if ever.

[Trajan88]

Thank you... I just don't see enough international soccer to know if what Z.Z. did may be some type of way players use to get out of continuing if they're physically incapacitated (I never heard what injury he sustained... separated shoulder earlier in the match?).

Not similar, but I read many moons ago that the Mick (#7 of the NY Yankees) purposely argued balls and strikes one time after he was still a "little" sauced during a day game after a night of heavy partying. Apparently he wanted to get tossed in order to save the embarasment of not being able to play to expectations.

[rmlew]

You are kidding, right?
He was hit in his sternum. The front of the skull, especially one calcified from years of head butting is stronger than ribs.
Such a blow could easily cause a nasty hematoma, cracked ribs, pericardial damage.
This is blunt force trauma around the heart. It can kill a person!

[rmlew]

The refs did seem to call red flags too easily. (Did you see the England-Portugal game? A ref kicked out Beckham's replacement for hitting his opponent's shin and tripping him while getting a ball. This wasn't a slinde tackle, but a clean hit. I did that dozens of times on defense.)

Still Zizou's action was uncalled for and dangerous.

[MikefromOhio]

It can kill a person!

And yet not even a bullet smaller than a .30 would've caused such a reaction with his legs and lower body. It's a friggin act. I wonder when he'll get signed by the WWE for his flopping ability.

[Kenny Bunk]

So, what's wrong with a team of immigrants who are citizens of that country?

Nothing wrong with a multicultural country, if everybody agrees on a core culture, which I presume in a Western country might include a modicum of sportsmanship, which might also include not injuring an opposing player during normal halts in play.

The sporting field is not the place to go on jihad.

[bboop]

"And that excuses ANYthing, from head butts to subway bombs." Hear hear! I am so with you. No excuse for what he did. Those Muslim hotheads blame THEIR bad character on others, and that is one consistent trait.

[Kenny Bunk]

... not even a bullet smaller than a .30 would've caused such a reaction with his legs and lower body...

These operatic death scenes are one reason soccer may never make it in this country. I have no doubt the Italians rode Zizou like a rented mule all day long ... part of the game.

But they got what they wanted when the Clymer snapped and delivered the sneak attack. BTW, these guys develop heads and necks like rocks, so it's just quite possible he hurt the guy.

[bboop]

Materazzi, cute? Your daughter is SO RIGHT. The Italian team -- hooeeey, they were all fine.

[bboop]

Thank you. Zidane very deliberately turned and butted Matterazzi. They were walking separately.

[MikefromOhio]

Oh I totally agree.

What Zidane did was completely and totally out of the realm of acceptable competition. Certainly he deserved and received that red card.

But the fall was a flop.

[notfornothing]

If you listen closely enough, you can hear the sound of another baseball diamond being plowed over to make a soccer field.

Or as I like to call it, "sweet music."

Ahhhhhhhhhhh.

[JRios1968]

The only sounds that go with soccer involve Capri Sun pouches being opened, mini-vans running on idle and pizza parties at Chuck E. Cheese's.

You can have it.

Remember, it's "baseball, hot dog, and apple pie..."

You can keep your "soccer, pate, and crepes."

[notfornothing]

Baseball fan huh? So you must be what, 60? I hear they're having free Geritol night (again) at the ballpark next week. You might want to look into that.

Seriously though, the only reason anyone goes to baseball games anymore is to hear all the great World War I stories the fans tell. That and it's a great excuse to sit outside on a nice summer night for three hours and have a cold one. Nothing wrong with that anyway. :)

[JRios1968]

Compared to those who go to kids soccer games to check out the players, the baseball crowd is totally civilized; even the ones who jump onto the field are more civilized than your typical soccer fan.

Just admit it, you drool over an activity played mostly by little kids and Euro guys with mullets...and your fellow fans are mostly illiterate Euro punks. Your typical Euro soccer crowd has enough IQ to reach the double digits...you can have it.

Civilized America will continue to watch baseball. Those who follow soccer will do so until they turn 12, when they become civilized and move on to baseball.