Especially after Zizou sees red and head-butts Italy's Materazzi in the last 10 minutes of extra time in the 2006 World Cup Finals between France and Italy.
We all know what happens after this picture was taken.
It was reported today that a majority of the french still hails Zinedine Zidane a hero despite his behaviour that led to his sending off in his last ever match for his country. Zizou's entry in this world cup was marred by strangeness, remember he claimed to have had a dream which made him go back on his international retirement and returned to the french squad for World Cup 2006, and have personally felt that it is divine intervention that will lead France to a world cup victory.
Its been 40 or so hours since Italy was crowned the world champion but the stills and live replays of the Zizou Head-Butt stuns me still. Personally I think its heartwarming that the french rally behind its favourite sporting hero. However a forensic lip-reader also decided to make matters worse for our world by informing that Materazzi called Zidane "son of a terrorist whore" and that led to the french captain's rage. Whilst I agree that there is no place for racism in football, should I believe the guy who reads lips? Why did Zizou do it, is the million dollar question that is on every one's lips including mine. And perhaps even Zizou does not know why. Sometimes a person does something so unexpectedly atrocious in a split second without thinking that could change the course of his life. But sometimes you are lucky that the good that you have done will be remembered and you find out just how forgiving the world can be. And that divine intervention creates winners, and losers.
As for Italy, the champions of World Cup 2006 won after a 5 : 3 penalty shootout, the victory over France serves as a breather from a match fixing scandal that has tainted Italian soccer.
The Azzurris received rousing and deafening cheers at the Circus Maximus in Rome from a throng of over 500,000 supporters. For a while it would be welcomed diversion from the promise of stiff retribution. It is reported that the verdict of the match-fixing trial will be released shortly, the result of which could lead to the relegation of Juventus to Serie C. Someone up there sure has a cute sense of humour.
And so ends the World Cup 2006. No more risking sleep deprivation until South Africa in 2010. Back to work early you all.
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