Yeah, he sure showed him didn’t he. Especialy when Zizou got to raise that World Cup trophy. Wait a minute…
I’ve played pllenty of sports myself, and there is always trash talking and I have heard cross lines, and you know what? It doesn’t matter. It is said to provoke and the instant you do something about it that hurts your team that guy who provoked you wins. And the idea that Zizou is some sort of choir boy out there is laughable. Oh no somebody said something mean, possibly racist. Anyone with a midnset older than a five year old would brush tat off or better yet use it as fuel to try and deny his opponent what he really wants. But instead Zidane goes for the headbutt, I’m sure momentraily gratifying but immensely stupid.
They were no worse than the French and they often played better football. Let’s be clear, De Rossi was sent off for the elbow on McBride and received a 4 match ban. They play the game the same way every other team did and they won because they deserved to win. And yes, we clearly didn’t watch the same game.
Zidane was petulent mostly because he was being marked out of the game. I’d be concerned if you really thought that his assaulting another player for an alleged comment was a reasonable response.
Ho, ho. How clever of you. For several years I was paid to play soccer. I still play in two leagues in Chicago despite breaking my leg in three places and my ankle. Just as an FYI.
Gangster Octopus - But the Italians had the shootout completely in hand. 5 for 5! And this is normally the weakest part of their game! Even if Zidane making his kick was a sure thing, he’s only one man. Certainly didn’t help, but I don’t see how it hurt.
Whether or not trash talking is appropriate is another subject entirely. Frankly, I’d rather it not be “acceptable”, but that’s for FIFA to decide. (Probably not the best thing, given all the confusion on what is/isn’t a yellow card offense, but that’s another issue.)
Zidane’s head-butt was stupid and disgraceful, and whatever Matterazzi said is no excuse. Trash-talk is all about trying to get your opponent off their game. In this case it worked, and Matterazzi won.
But just because Zizou was stupid doesn’t mean Matterazzi isn’t an a**hle. Based on some clips on you-tube of Matterazzi, he is definitely a right bst*rd who would undoubtedly twist nipples, stomp feet, elbow, and do whatever else he thought he could get away with to bother or even injure an opponent (let’s just say one clip showed he could give DeRossi lessons in the use of the elbow).
Watching a fair number of games, IMO Italy definitely won the silver medal for diving (though didn’t come close to contesting Portugal’s gold of course).
Badger/Lochdale – In addition to disliking Italy for diving and elbowing, I think a lot of fans were turned off by their style of play. It can be hard to appreciate watching a team bunker down and wait for penalties for the last seventy-five minutes of the game, even when they were up a man! Perhaps smart tactics, and not underhanded in any way, but I wouldn’t call it a beautiful game, when you’re up a man in a tie game, and the other team is pushing forward more and has more scoring chances.
DKW -It’s difficult to say that Italy ‘had the shootout well in hand’ when they won only because one shot was about one inch too high. In fact, it’s hard to imagine winning by a smaller margin. Not that I’m saying Zidane would have been the difference, just saying the actual match hardly proved Italy’s superiority.
NO, they were MUCH worse than the French. Yes, they often played better football.
And that’s fucking bullshit. Elbowing someone in the face (and bloodying) is worse or at least equal an offense as a headbutt to the chest. Both wrong, both penalized. In my mind, one is a clear reaction to something and one is dirty play.
No
And yes. Their brilliant effort psyched Trezuguet into hitting the crossbar. Again, IMHO when neither goalie can even get a glove on a single kick during a PSO, one team loses, rather than the other one winning. Yes Italy won. They have the cup. They are the champions. There’s no question about that. As they always say, a winner has to be decided at some point, and it was clearly Italy.
Please stop. This is possibly the most inane, repetitious comment.
Wow! Sounds like you’re the clever one. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Hmmm, I’d like to apologize for my tone in this thread. I’m not sure why I’m getting all inflamed over this topic. I haven’t really cared much about either France or Italy. I guess it’s just something to talk (read: argue) about…
Actually, I’d have to agree with you. I don’t think Italy were at all the best team in the tournament. They got through on a bullshit penalty call against Australia (I saw the replay over and over, it was not a penalty) and played boring, uninspired football the whole time. The only moments worth watching were the last couple of minutes they played against Germany, which were heartbreaking because Germany was way, way more interesting and inspiring to watch.
And I think this highlights for me what I have come to dislike about these short-term competitions. Teams end up winning more through a process of attrition than through inspired, beautiful play. Coaches are so paranoid about losing, players are so coached to be safe, that you end up with the sadness that was Switzerland-Ukraine, for example. What a nasty to watch match, unispired, completely devoid of life, because rather than take a chance and attack, they’d rather play it safe and defend, and hope the other guy screws up first.
But back to the OP, Zidane was completely wrong, there was no excuse for reacting the way he did. He’s a professional and is expected to handle himself appropriately. That sort of behaviour would never be accepted in an office, and it shouldn’t be accepted on the field (not that I think anyone is advocating such acceptance). The only thing I can think of is that he was completely and totally physically exhausted, and his mind wasn’t all together there. I think they end up playing overall too many games, at all levels, and getting to the final just wore him out. Look at Brazil, I think that’s why their best weren’t really their best, they were just too tired.
I am amused by the fact that you believe you have the final, absolute, and correct word on this. That anyone who disagrees with you is not just ignorant and uninformed, but clearly too stupid to breathe, and probably lying.
Was the Penalty Kick against the Socceroos deserved? Absolutely, unequivocally not. The Aussie player not only did not commit a penalty in the box, he never even touched the player who went down.
While Zidane was wrong to lose it like that, and regardless of how things eventually played out his actions did cost his team, the more I read about what Materazzi said and after seeing Zidane interviewed yesterday, the more I find myself sympathizing with and liking the guy.
He didn’t throw a punch at Materazzi and he didn’t headbutt him in the face. Instead, he just physically embarrased the guy after being subjected to relentless jackassedness. The guy tweaked his nipple, insulted his manhood and culinary discression, implied past adultry with his wife, insulted his sick mother… then he got publicly drove.
What Zidane did was wrong… but he did it so freakin’ right!
I’m sorry, did you say Zidane physically embarrassed the guy? First what doies that mean? Secondly Zidane embarassed oly himself. Thirdly I am sure any embarrasssment felt by the Italain was so miniscule compared to the gratification of winning. I am pretty sure if anything he was laughing.
I like Zidnae’s explanation. He headbutted him after the guy said it three times. So it was more the quantity than the content, apparently. Reminds me of Will Ferrel’s cahracter in the Austin Powers movies, how he had to be asked three times before he would answer any question.
GO, I believe you’re looking at it completely within the confines of a sporting event and I’m considering one’s right to self respect, although I’m loathe to speak for anyone and don’t wish to misrepresent your tack.
Materazzi was being as rude and disrespectful and insulting as he could be. Zidane had enough and put him on his ass. Materazzi, in what is apparently ingrained form, tries to cover said ass with ridiculous, transparent lies. I’ve got my limits too so I don’t blame Zidane one bit and enjoy seeing a jerk get his just due.
Two spectators, obviously sitting on different sides of the field, come away from a contest with two different interpretations. That’s as it should be. Don’t let others’s interpretations be such a personal affront to your own. I understand your sentiments but embrace others as well.
People have differences of opinions on many things and football lends itself nicely to arguments. Never suggested that I have the final word on anything but I saw what I saw and the Italians were no worse than the French in the diving stakes. Further, to suggest that the Italians “cheated” is just, imho, flat out wrong. Don’t agree with me? Tough.
In the context of a game though Zidane was wrong. Further, he was wrong and his team lost. Zidane is no angel so I don’t give him any respect for his utter stupidity. He contributed to France’s loss by his act of utter petulence (again, he was being marked out of the game at the end and I firmly believe having seen him play in person several times that this contributed to the attack).
