As Tara rightly says, don't take the actual incident in isolation if you wish to gain an understanding of what led to the incident. It goes right back to when they were together in the penalty area.

It would have been far more than just name calling you can be sure of that. Winding people up is a part of the game to put them off, but this must have been pretty strong for Zizou to react like he did.

Remember how Eric Cantona reacted when that knob of a Crystal Palace fan called him a "motherf++ker"? Different cultures react differently to certain insults.

Cant forgive his response but for me does not cloud the fact that he has been a prince of a player. 8)

Because it'll boost his book/film appearances/everything he now goes on to do after football. What better way to get in the news than doing that in the final of the world cup? The story is bigger than the story that Italy won the thing.

Sveedy...Do you know how much Real Madrid paid for Zizou? The cut he got from that and his wages would hardly see him desperate to earn off a book! Not that there will not be one mind! :wink:

hehe he won the best footballer of the competition award lol.

And Figo head butted someone too? All these supposedly experienced older players doint it tut tut

Not sure how true this is, but I have learned that Materazzi,(who is apparently well known for having a foul mouth,that often goes beyond normal wind up banter)
very possibly called Zizou,(among other things) "a terrorist". Now given Zidane's ethnic background and the fact that he was living in Madrid when the train atrocity took place, that could be taken very badly indeed and hence the result being that he snapped. :?

Once again I do not aim to defend an action that Zinedine has indicated he regrets, but I do offer some information aimed at promoting a little understanding. :?

It is also very interesting that thus far, Materazzi has refused to give details as to the exchange between himself and Zidane before he got decked! Read in to that what you will.

Well if that's true then it's definitely below the belt. I think it's safe to say that something very insulting was said to Zidane which made Zidane snap. Just because he's a professional footballer doesn't mean he's any more thick skinned when it comes to matters like this. And where was Materazzi's professionalism when he said whatever it was he said? There is a line you just don't cross, whether you're on the pitch or the street. If Materazzi crossed that line then he deserves what he got and I don't blame ZiZou for what he did.

Or maybe Materazzi said **** all and Zidane just wanted to create a bad boy image for himself after seeing the success of a certain Mr Vinnie Jones :?:

Listening to Radio 4 this morning on way into work, they asked for listeners guesses about what was being said.

Materazzi: My people will give you $50, 000,000 if you head butt me.
Zidane: Make it $100,000,000
Materazi: OK

or

Materazzi: How do you respond to the commonly held conception that French farmers are receiving more than their fair share from the common agricultural policy?

or (and IMO the best):

Materazzi: Know any good cures for hiccups?

madness!

The Matrix: :shock: I have a spider on my shirt... eww eww, take it off ZiZou I hate them, they are just perfectly horrid.

ZiZou: You take it off you big girl.

The Matrix: PLEEEASE, EWW he's crawling up now. He will get into my lovely hair!!!

ZiZou: OK, no hands though, this is football.

The Matrix: OK, but hit him hard. I dont want him laying eggs in my hair.

ZiZou: Esssh.

The Matrix: Opmh. I think you got him buddy.

For the game playing fans out there

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/4411/750230qu.gif

I found it funny :D