Categories: Sports

The 2006 World Cup has ended. The jerseys have been put away, the war paint has been washed off and the stadiums are vacant. But the head butting incident involving Zidane and Materazzi is still on the lips of people worldwide, and may have matched the World Cup itself in terms of coverage. Even the Americans, who couldn’t be more apathetic about football, are talking about it. Most say that it was the only part of the finals worth watching. Typical. They can’t appreciate the grace and skill in which the players handle the ball, but they love a show of brute force. It has even inspired parodies, like the ones here. It has also inspired games, like this one.

But in the midst of all this sensationalism, people are still asking “Why?” All signs point to an insult from Materazzi. It is speculated that he called Zidane an Islamic terrorist, since he is of Algerian origin. Zidane cleared the air about it on a television interview in Paris Wesdnesday. He said Materazzi insulted his mother and sister during the World Cup final. He said he tried to ignore them but he kept repeating them. He also apologized to his fans for his actions, but had no regrets about it.I can understand why Zidane was angry, but I don’t approve of the way he handled the situation. He could have approached FIFA with it, as they are very harsh with indiscipline in football. Or he could have retaliated after the final. I guess he thought he had nothing to lose, since that was his final match. They must have been some serious insults, for him to leave such a blemish on his career. His actions could have cost France the Cup, and himself of the tournament’s best player award. Guess he should have used his head for something other than causing bodily harm. I wonder if Materazzi deliberately angered Zidane so that he could be sent off the field. He knows Zidane would be more than likely to react, as he has a history of hot-headedness. Eliminate France’s star player, the greatest threat to the Italians, and the World Cup is as good as theirs. It’s not impossible for such as high class sporting event, featuring a sport that both nations are so passionate about. One thing’s for sure, his head butt will not soon be forgotten and may just be the thing he’s remembered for.