.jpg)
2 months ago
82 ARTICLE AD
Almost everything has been said about the headbutt given by Zinedine Zidane to Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final in Germany. While passing through France, the former Italian central defender recently returned to the episode, speaking in particular about the origins of the incident between the two men.
“At the start it was Gattuso’s fault. What happened was that during the first period of extra time, I don’t know if you remember, there was a huge save from Buffon. And on this action, in reality, I clash with Gattuso because he reproaches me for not having been to mark Zidane who had struck while I was supposed to be marking Trezeguet, he said. thus told. It was him, Gattuso, who should have been marking Zidane. So in reality he and I butted heads saying: ‘it’s your fault, it’s my fault’. And then what happened was that I said that if I hadn’t retained Zidane we would have been in trouble. We found ourselves clashing, there was nervousness and this is what happened behind. »
“If Zinedine Zidane became the hero”
The explanations were probably not enough to change Daniel Riolo’s mind on the culpable error made by Zinedine Zidane. “When there was the Zidane episode, I said to myself that it was embarrassing, that what he was doing was disgusting. I’m not impartial at all, I say to myself: ‘If we lose the final after a guy behaves like that on the field, it’s horrible’. he confided in Darren Tullett’s podcast “The matches of my life”.
And the journalist was so exasperated that he wholeheartedly hoped for the victory of Italy, the country of his parents. “After the headbutt, I locked myself in the toilet, and I prayed. If Zidane became the hero and won the final… Stop, it was time for things to turn around,” he explained.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
