France lost the World Cup final. Ah well. But what is more disappointing is this. With 10 minutes left in overtime, the French captain (and national hero) Zinédine Zidane, playing his last game before retirement, viciously headbutted one of the Italian players (Marco Materazzi) because of something he said to him. He was sent off, and then France lost in a penalty shootout. Had he not behaved in such an ignominious manner, he might have made a difference in the final outcome. And it just seems so cruel to his team, to the nation that looked up to him, and indeed to himself, for him to end his career this way. And shocking; I had trouble believing my eyes, and it seems that no one else could either. Yet the BBC reports that this sort of thing has happened before with Zidane. I guess then I'm a little less shocked. Still, it's too bad. As a fan (albeit a Jenny-come-lately fan), I feel let down.
In a funny twist, Zidane had been voted by journalists to be the best player of the World Cup, on votes largely cast before the headbutting incident. Beforehand, there was quite the romantic atmosphere swirling around his legendary status, and his impending retirement after this game; Zidane the master, the maestro, bringing the aged French team to one last big show -- and then, after said big show? The inevitable lament that he was unable to control his emotions as well as he controlled the ball. Another day, and now everyone is wondering why "Zizou" a craqué. What did Materazzi say to him? Did he call him a terrorist, insult his mother?
A postscript: Les bleus returned to France to general acclaim, including some special warmth for Zidane. The BBC quotes Chirac in translation as saying "Dear Zinédine, in such a hard and intense moment for you, I would like to express the whole nation's affection and admiration for you. You are a virtuoso, a genius of football and an exceptional human being. That is why France admires you." Even in English, Chirac still sounds unmistakeably like Chirac!
1 comment:
Yes, Chirac will always sound like Chirac...
Materrazi is well known in Italy for making the fascist hail to his fans. Among them, there is Mussolini's grand daughter.
What Zidane did was wrong, unapropriate, and sad because it goes so much against all the values he carried for such a long time like respect or fair play. It's also true that it wasn't the first time that he blew his top.
Too bad he couldn't resist to provocation and win the World Cup. With the cup in his hands, he wouldn't have needed any headbutt kick to make Materrazi cry.
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