ZZ (blows his) TOP!

The Best team lost.

Zinidane Zidane slid into the shadows instead of riding into the sunset.

France played the better football, with heart, with technique and then Zizou blew his top. Typically in response to a bit of Italian gamesmanship. It cost his country the World Cup.
The comparison with that other masterful marshal - Napoleon, is uncanny.
Zidane the midfield marshal, like Napoleon was sent off to exile in disgrace. Unlike Napoleon, His memory will be revered by all Frenchmen, racists apart.

Allegedly Marco Materazzi wished him (ZZ) & his family “an ugly death”, called him a “terrorist” and creased it off with a “F*ck you!” While this goes on at all levels and in all games & in all sports, the showpiece of football, the World Cup Final did not need it.

ZZ’s response was regrettable but would understandable be too subtle a word to describe his retort? He walked back to the Italian, clearly upset and butted him in the chest. Materazzi is a few inches taller. The Italian crashed to the ground as if a bullet hit him, as if he was seized by the spirit of an ancestor from WW2. The ref had no option to red-card Zidane, hopefully an inquiry into the event will yield worthwhile retribution for Materazzi.

It was a terrible way to end a glittering career such as his but as I described in my final preview, it sums up the difference in class between two footballing cultures of France & Italy.

The legendary Brian Clough described Italy’s “favourite team” Juventus in 1973 as “Cheating bastards” after they stole a European cup semi final from His Derby County with their “antics”. Afterwards it was discovered the Italians had indeed bribed the ref with “gifts”. Juventus are once more accused of game-rigging in 2006, facing demotion to two levels as indeed are Milan, Fiorentina & Lazio. The last time Italy won a world cup (’82) it was to a similar background. Some things it appears never change.

For the record, I believe the best team went out to Germany in the quarter final. Argentina. The Germans weren’t too far behind either; their titanic tussle with the Argentineans tired them out for the Italians.

All over now though. Chelsea for three in a row and the Champions’ League next year!
C’mon you Blues!