July 9: The Daily World Cup Wrap
Whoever won today it was going to make a great story. Zidane’s last hurrah with an unfancied French team, or an Italian team playing against a scandal-ridden backdrop.
But that was no guarantee we’d see a good game, and while technically it wasn’t perfect, there were 120 minutes plus of high drama. And one hell of a headbutt.
Daily Wrap Awards:
Top Man: Andrea Pirlo. Pulled the strings.
Top Team: Italy. World champions.
Top Goal: Materazzi’s header. Bosh.
Bit of Skill: Pirlo’s set pieces. Deadly.
Saw That Coming: Penalty shoot out.
But Not That: Zidane butting Materazzi.
Italy vs France | LiveBlog | Italy World Cup Gear, France World Cup Gear
Italy 1 (Zidane [pen] 7)
France 1 (Materazzi 19)
(aet, Italy won 5-3 on penlaties)
Thirty seconds in and Thierry Henry was flat on his back. Not a dive, just a nasty collision with Cannavaro but it took a few minutes a good waft of smelling salts to get the forward back on his feet.
Florent Malouda also had trouble staying upright, taking a suspicious tumble in the area after seven minutes. Replays suggest that Materazzi’s contact was minimal at most, but the ref pointed to the spot.
Zidane stepped up and attempted to chip his penalty into the roff of the net. The ball hit the bar, but bounced down just the right side of the goal line before bouncing out again. With that bit of luck, it was tempting to think France’s name was on the cup.
Marco Materazzi (who seemed to be involved in everything, positive and negative) had other ideas. Andrea Pirlo sent over a fantastic corner and Materazzi beat Vieira in the air to bury a powerful header past Barthez.
The end of the first half was action packed, with Italy looking the more confident. Ribery tried to repeat Malouda’s trick by falling over near Materazzi, but the referee was having none of it. Lilian Thuram had to make a fantastic sliding tackle to deny Totti in the 35th minute, and from the resulting corner (expertly taken by Pirlo again) Toni got above Thuram and crashed a header onto the bar.
Eric Abidal then relieved the tension for the watching multitudes, finishing the first half with a comedy throw in.
Henry must have shook off that concussion at half time, because he looked a bit livelier in the second half, threatening the Italian defence with a couple of runs.
With half an hour to go, Lippi brought off Totti for Daniele “elbows” De Rossi. Proof that groveling and apologising to FIFA and Brian McBride is enough to get you into a World Cup final.
Toni thought he’s scored the winner after 62 minutes when he ran onto a deep cross and headed past Barthez, but he was ruled offside. Just a minute later Henry found enough space to shoot on goal, but Buffon made an impressive one handed save.
Things calmed down for the last twenty minutes of regular time, neither team keen to conceded so late in the game. Zidane’s final looked to be over when he received an arm injury after an unfortunate landing, but a quick squirt of the magic spray and he was back in the action. He may wish he’d stayed injured given what happened next.
The drama resumed in extra time. Ribery dragged a shot just wide on 99 minutes, after a one two with Malouda. Zidane met a Sagnol cross in the 104th minute and powered a header at goal. It looked to be in the script but Buffon produced another impressive one handed save to tip it over the bar.
Zidane then made a gigantic departure from the script, giving us the single incident this game will be remembered for. A bit of verbal sparring with Materazzi looked harmless, until Zidane suddenly charged and butted his head into the Italian defender’s chest. After a consultation with his linesman (they will never be called assistant referees in my house) Horacio Elizondo produced a red card for Zizou. A terrible end to a brilliant career (though at least he won’t have to worry about the suspension).
We still don’t know what Materazzi said, and he did fall to the groud with remarkable ease, but a player of Zidane’s experience should know better. France had to hang on with ten men for ten more minutes before penalties.
And penalties it was. Italy broke the habit of a lifetime, not only winning the World Cup on penalty kicks (and erasing memories of 1994) but converting all five. France weren’t so lucky. David Trezeguet (a late substitute for an exhausted Henry) hit the bar, but unlike Zidane’s earlier, the ball bounce back on the wrong side of the line. It was Fabio Grosso who had the chance to win it from the spot. He made no mistake, calmly sidefooting home to send Italian fans into raptures.
Video highlights here.
Fan Photos:
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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 144 comments.
Read the rest of the comments
By Im ENGLISH. I blame others for my LOSS. I'm a dumbass | July 10th, 2006 at 6:16 pm 
Cristiano Ronaldo Told Zidane to Head butt MATERAZZi so that Zidane would get a red card. just like how he told ROONEY to push Him!!
And then I winked right after. did you guys see that?
We must all blame ronaldo!
Posted from 
Canada
By kim | July 10th, 2006 at 6:37 pm Italy deserved to win. They scored the only legitmate goal in the game. something needs to be done about all the diving!! It’s a black mark on the game. Zidane should be ashamed. Don’t forget that these are all professional players. No comment from anyone should make you do something that gets you a red card and puts your team at a disadvantage. Zidane doesn’t deserve the golden ball!
Posted from 
United States
By Michela | July 10th, 2006 at 8:04 pm HAHAHAHA Kuwait and India lol HAHAHAHAHAHA the french lolololol You guys are so funny! ViVa Italia!
Posted from United States
By Pragyan | July 10th, 2006 at 8:07 pm Italy has fooled the Argentine referee and the whole world on the 9th of July, 2006. This is no World Cup match at all. Italians indulged in kicking the French players. Shame on Italy! The Italian team is a good representative of Italian mafia, who has no ethics.
Posted from 
India
By Pragyan | July 10th, 2006 at 8:14 pm Materazzi — the real villain of World Cup 2006. Hope the FIFA recognizes the foul-mouthed Italians by conferring a prize called “The Best Foul-Players’ Team”.
Posted from India
By guy | July 10th, 2006 at 8:43 pm this site is biased and the authors/admins/moderators like most blogs ive seen have deleted my posts that say anything bad about zidane.
clearly this site is driven by a biased group of zidane lovers.
figures…
By Soccer Joe | July 10th, 2006 at 9:02 pm Here is your chance to look at human garbage called Materazzi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq6HosVlskQ&search=materazzi
Boy, I had no idea what a “goon” Materazzi is. He looks for trouble.
Posted from United States
By Canaditalia | July 10th, 2006 at 9:03 pm NEWAR from KUWAIT and the 2 from INDIA:
You all are angry, discriminant people!
You need to do some research on history and look inward at your own countries and what has happened on your own soils.
And you need to learn more about France - they are one of the most unaccepting countries in the world today - despite most of their exceptional international team being of colour, they are very racist and unforgiving to those of minority. The only reason they have such a large black population playing for their country is because of all of the African countries they muscled. “French” Polynisia - once a slave country to France - Ivory Coast - once a slave country to France.
I have many friends that are of Middle Eastern descent that have lived a large part of their lives in France and they will be the first to tell you that racism lives and breathes in that country.
Please educate yourselves before coming on what is supposed to be a positive way to discuss a wonderful game and tournament and look like a fool.
I am embarrassed for all three of you.
JP
Posted from Canada
By mike | July 11th, 2006 at 12:23 am since when is the mafia supposed to have ethics India? you idiot, look at your own backyard before you criticize others
your country harbors terrorists and you come to the US building gas stations to fund the jihad. That to me is corruption and the mafia doesn’t kill innocent people like the coward suicide bombers in your camel strappon country.
Posted from United States
By Aarash | July 11th, 2006 at 1:54 am racism cannot be tolerated on or off the field, by players coaches or fans or people ignorant of the world cup
racism in general is not condemnable in any instance, everyone on this forum should be ashamed of themself
fifa had a huge campaign “Say no to racism” on the field and have a particular department to deal with racism
Materazzi broke all conventions of human decency and fifa rules
he should be punished accordingly
half of you on this board have broken it too, come on people
Posted from United States
By Aarash | July 11th, 2006 at 2:06 am this really reminds me of when rudi voller called a player a the n-word and then he spat in his face
the player who spat got the red card
you shouldn’t spit in one’s face, but i think that racial slur is 100 times worse than the spit
Posted from United States
By Nola | July 11th, 2006 at 2:53 am Both teams were deserving of the Cup. Italy had a brilliant run — they were consistent and in all areas throughout the tournament. However, France played better in the final. Sometimes the team that plays best does not win.
Posted from United States
By Mercury | July 11th, 2006 at 5:48 am It seems the referee relied on a video replay and consultation to issue Zidane the red card. I wonder if the referee’s action is sanctioned by FIFA regulation for officiating. Obviously the referee didn’t witness the great headbutt nor the event that led to it. That being the case, he could not have based his action on sound evaluation and fair judgment. I presume it isn’t valid to use a video replay to make soccer calls since this is not standard practice. Is there any opinion on this issue out there?
I saw Materazzi wrap his hand around Zidane. Who knows what his motive was and what foul utterances followed. Clearly he provoked Zidane beyond mortal understanding. There’s a limit to ones endurance and it’s no surprise that Zidane reacted in a manner others thought he shouldn’t have. Personally I thought he should have followed the butt with a kick to the mouth. Maybe that would have taught (Mighty rat)Materatzzi a lesson in humility.
Given the circumstance, I think the referee should have cautioned both Zidane and Materazzi and resumed play. He would have been a hero for preventing what turned out to be an ugly stain on Zidanes illustrious career.
I boldly state that this referee was not consistent with his calls at all. He favored the Italians for the most part. Clearly he waved off a penalty on Malouda that could have given France a big lift and security. It’s sad that the outcome of the final was marred by poor officiating.
The Italians won again by hook and by crook. They took home the highly priced trophy like bandits and left behind rubbles of shattered emotions of a game gone bad.
I am by no means a hater of Italians. I am simply appalled by the extreme unsportmanlike behaviour. I wish things were different. Inspite of every thing that I have said, I must now extend my congratulations to the Italians for their victory. When the smoke clears, it’s all about winning.
Posted from United States
By Catherine | July 11th, 2006 at 6:09 am Okay, so if I understand all of you correctly, racism shouldnt be tolerated, but violence and fighting should?
Look in the mirror. Calling Italians names and stereotyping makes you a racist.
Posted from Canada
By azzurro | July 11th, 2006 at 12:07 pm to Mercury, it is amazing what you say, “italians bandits” “robbered the trophy” But what France did more than Italy to win the WC? or we should give them the trophy just because they have Zidane playing the last match? What unsportmanlike behaviour are you talking about? I assume you are referring to what ZZ did?
Posted from United States
By minhoca | July 11th, 2006 at 1:09 pm this is another of example of why refs should be able to review the video for ANY issue… fouls leading to red cards, controversial goals, etc.
Posted from United States
By minhoca | July 11th, 2006 at 1:12 pm I just read this Materazzi quote:
“I did not call him a terrorist. I am not a cultured person and I don’t even know what as Islamist terrorist is.”
http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0711/materazzim.html
Italians… help me out here. I’ve never been to Italy, but is it such a backwater country, cut off from the rest of the world that people do not know what an islamic terrorist is?
Posted from United States
By smokinjoe | July 11th, 2006 at 3:59 pm @mike: Interesting fact you found about india. Camels? jihad?
“and the mafia doesn’t kill innocent people”
Are you drunk so early?
Posted from 
Germany
By Catherine | July 11th, 2006 at 6:12 pm You know, in 2004, nobody asked Totti what the Danish player said to him when Totti spat on him.
Totti was kicked out of the tournament, and yes, he was provoked and terrible things were said to him…
Yet, only Totti suffered… How come it’s only an outrage when it’s Zidane?
Do you seriously think Rooney wasnt provoked also? etc.
Posted from Canada
By Catherine | July 11th, 2006 at 6:17 pm extreme unsportmanlike behaviour?
you say that like the Italians are the only one who had any…
You shouldnt label. You know the U.S. had to apologise to the association for their behaviour in this cup? read about it before judging another nation and calling THEM unsportmanlike.
Posted from Canada
By Nicole | July 12th, 2006 at 5:59 am Materazzi shouldnt have said whatever he said, sure, but everyone talks crap. the thing he said was only called into question because of zidane’s head butt. if your gonna criticize him you might as well criticize the other players of the sport who say stuff like that but dont get caught.
besides materazzi is only one player. how does this one player’s actions reflect badly on the whole team when there are clearly good people on the italian side?
italy played better in the tournament
france played better in the final
materazzi said something, zidane retaliated
its simple: italy won no matter how much you criticize their team for diving, racism, ect. get over it
Posted from United States
By Qi | July 12th, 2006 at 6:19 am I do agree I don’t know much about sport, but by the movement of Zidane, I can tell that he is a good soccer player. I believe he did what he have done on July 9th for a reason. And he is professional enough to keep everything for himself. That shows he is a good character. This is the first and probably last game I saw Zidane play, but it’s the best game because he is the best player, a star from the soccer legend. I admired him and I think he does deserved the golden ball!
Posted from United States
By Nola | July 12th, 2006 at 5:10 pm Wtf, Materazzi’s comment is laughable. He is known for playing filthy football and I wouldn’t put it past him to have a filthy, racist mouth as well. Not that it justifies what Zidane did, but still, the theme of this World Cup was say no to racism for pete’s sake. But I’ll watch the Zidane interview before I roll out the final judgement.
Posted from United States
By Goazzuri | July 13th, 2006 at 12:28 am What a bunch os French Whiners! France out-fouled Italy 24-17! France got 3 cautions vs Italy’s 1! What match were you guys watching? Italy should have won 1-0 but the ref gave France an unmerited penalty kick. I’m sure Zidane is an inoocent little lamb who never trash talked, never got a yellow or a red card and never got kicked out of a match! What the hell does it matter what Materazzi said? So, if Zidane had a gun in his hand, he had the right to shoot him? What twisted logic? This is prima facie whining by a bunch of very poor losers. It’s too bad all this whining is taking away from a great Italian victory by a team with an impenetrable defense. Forza Italia!
Posted from United States
By luca | July 13th, 2006 at 8:19 pm FOR PEOPLE TAHT SPEAKS ABOUT ITALIAN RACISM!!
Why people speaks without knowing what’s real happened?
Materazzi haven’t said terrorist…algerian…or other thing that people hope that he said!
This is the the real racism, versus ITALY! In these days many have said most ugly things to the Italians!
I’m tired!
If Materazzi it had given the head to Zidane, it would have been spoken about provocation? about racism? NO
you would have only spoken about the bad Italian man!!!
They have discussed, Materazzi has said something to his sister (not a good thing but I think that it happen often during a match) but zidane instead answering or ignore it, has reacted with his head. It has mistaken, nothing excuses.
I’m Italian and I’m not racist as all italian people!
I’m also WORLD CHAMPION!!!
Bye
Posted from 
Italy
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