Jeep! It was the worst he could do in that moment. Even if sometimes words can hurt more than a chesthead, that was pain in the ass. For me it won't change that Zidane was the greatest palyer in the worldcup, but it will for many others. I stopped reading the newspaper 'cause I don't wan't to read all that crap in it.

Anyway Italy is the champion - Grats italy!

can't argue with that buglover but am I the only football fan in the world who also enjoys seeing a bit of a punch up? It's been part of the game for as long as I remember, the South Americans took it to an art form, German goalkeepers used it as a last form of defence. I say well done Zidane, you should have given him a Rooney stamp while he was down. As FIFA say, help to stamp out racism.... oh and by the way, Germany were a pleasure to watch, should be a good bet for the Euro's in 2008. My mates have just returned from the tournament and all agree that Germany should host it every time, great hospitality, excellent stadia, superb transport system and fine beer. Pat on the back time.

supak0ma - you were indeedy spot on - join yello piggy as a Soccer Oracle. My choice was Czech Republic, bad choice in the end.

Zidane might be a great player but if he looses the war with words it's no excuse for being violent.
http://www.gazzetta.it/openxlink.shtml?http://widelec.org/zidane.html

Eepi, that's brill!

ahahahahah! good find eepi!

CONGRATS ITALIA !!!!!!!!
I really think that it was a very balanced game, with (at last) drama and tragedy ! Both teams deserved to win.
Zinedine Zidane, with His incredibly stupid bull hit, can now retire and enter the pantheon of gods of soccer. (none of His numerous sponsors blamed Him for His inacceptable violence) He will forever remain the One who keeps proudly standing! (While materazzi, not forever but at least for a short time, will remain the one who was hit down on his ass and didn't reply in front of 3 000 000 000 of TV viewer .)

thanks to batichango for the link:
http://mapage.noos.fr/thbeghin/zidane14.gif

Yay FRANCE!!!...Oh...wait...it's over ain't it?

so it's done, he talked...: the materazzi dude insulted 2 or 3 times in 10 seconds, obviously the topic was what discovered the english lips reader woman... the result ,what did Zidane is what the body commands to the mind (just imagine the adrenaline % at this moment in this final )....it's chemical, not a moral problem or sthg...got it ?

bah, he could have just replied with another insult if that is the case, there is a million ways to insult an italian, isn't there. I see a lot of jealousy in the ones that blame Materazzi, you have to accept it, we are WORLD CHAMPIONS, again, in your face.

I'm with supak on this one... besides, protecting zidane will only strength the statement that you can solve issues with violence... is that the world you want yer kids to grow up at? a world where violence is the solution for everything? pffft nonsense... zidane is and will always be a lousy player!!!

Zidane is to blame, of course. Nothing can excuse his violence.
Italy deserve the cup, no doubt. As i said, the game was great.
and of course, Materazzi is to blame too. Insults are violence too. Verbal violence does exist ! I think the 2 players should have been expulsed, just like 2 children when they don't want to be reasonnable: "go straight to your room, and no dessert today!

It seems ladyboy Ronaldo has settled
his differences with Wayne Rooney
in the traditional Portugeuse way...