Not to go completely off topic here, but clearly there is a storm in the blogosphere about Zidane and I think this little clip on youtube from the France Vs. Brazil game kind of sums up why people care, enjoy:
Oh, and this is a stunning collection as well:
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Always sad to see a genius fall from grace. But what Zidane did is unforgiveable.
It takes two to tango – Materazzi’s past is also doing the rounds in the blogosphere:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlaqsOPlt-0
Hmmm, unforgivable is pretty strong. I actually felt very sorry for him that he had such a lapse in judgment, I can’t imagine how bad he must have felt that he got thrown out of the world cup final. A headbutt to the sternum may seem shocking but it’s rather innocuous as opposed to some other things you can do to a person. Put it in the context of other sport missteps, tyson biting and ear off vs zidanes headbutt, and it puts the headbutt in perspective
It was amazing watching the first clip, soundtrack and all. Thanks for sharing
He uses his feet as if they were hands, unbelievable skill. I guess we all need a little reminding that perhaps we should judge Zidane by what he has given football fans over the years rather than his final moment of madness.
The headbutt may actually be beneficial to his legacy. We’ve never stopped talking about Maradona and his “Hand of God”, and we may never stop talking about the great Zidane and his headbutt.
I particularly like that first clip, i mean that was all from 1 game, for many footballers that would be a pretty good montage of their careers, and it was against the best team in the world. Whoever did that clip did a great job with the music for sure, I’ve watched that clip several time.
I think your right about the infamy maybe adding to the Zidane story. I will never forgive Maradona though (i’m from england
K
I also feel sorry for Zidane – he was certainly a victim of abuse. And I am sorry that some people will remember him for that, and not his unquestionable footballing genius. He truly lit up my football experience on many occasions over the years.
It is true that he could have done worse, the red mist just seemed to descend. Unfortunately for ZiZou though, many will judge him on the fact that he should have led by example. To take an extreme example, a kid from Algeria being taunted in a Paris school has been shown that the answer is a headbutt.
The question is whether anyone would have any sympathy had it been another player. His talent shouldn’t sway our judgement, violence on the pitch is unacceptable in my view.
Maybe the French will (have already? :-0) forgive him. I guess my frame of reference is not ever fully forgiving Roy Keane from walking away from WC 2002
Or maybe I’m just afraid of getting a ZiZou style headbutt when I start playing again in September
I think I felt exactly like you did Paul at the moment it happened, I felt totally let down, like he didn’t give a fuck about anything above and beyond his own emotional whims, when he was standing for so much more.
In the end, like all things it is our expectations that drive our satisfaction and dissatisfaction with events. In the day or so since the event I think i’ve come to terms with my unrealistic expectations that all genius football players can have the self control of a diplomat. Pele, keegan, shilton, all diplomats. George Best, Zidane, vinny jones
not so much.
K-)
Unforgiveable is way too strong a word. Zidane is a Man and a human being just like anyone else. When someone talks about your mother, as he claims, who is having trouble in the hospital not one, but three times, you’d hit them too. It’s what you do to let them know that what they said was not ok and should never be repeated. If you wouldn’t stand up for your mother’s, sister’s, wife’s honor, then you won’t stand up for anyone.
Maybe he should have been thinking about his team or his country but in the end he is just a human being and his family are probably the most important thing in the world to him and the first thing that would make him angry.