<p>1 billion people were watching the game.</p>
<p>I think Zidane was in pain, not to mentioned frustrated and tired. That's not to excuse what he did, but pain can cause a person's temper to snap. He certainly let his team down and tarnished his legend.</p>
<p>apparently it was racist slurs...calling him "terrorist" that sort of thing....</p>
<p>Whatever it was, I'm guessing Zidane had heard it all before. But it was likely quite calculated.</p>
<p>congrats to italy...but even though Zidance did the head-but I still think he will go down as one soccer's (football's) greatest players...but it would have been a "priceless" moment to see him lifting the trophy</p>
<p>cheers for zizou (the greatest), france (2nd), italia (1st) and deutschland (3rd) !!!</p>
<p>true..i don't think this will really tarnish his reputation as a legend</p>
<p>viva zizou forever</p>
<p>Yeah, but it was truly an inexplicable act by Zidane, even if there were racial slurs involved. France needed Zidane in the shootout for what is essentially a guaranteed make which could have made the difference. What Zidane did would be the equivalent of Michael Jordan getting thrown out of his last NBA finals with a minute left in overtime. I agree that Zidane is one of the best players of all-time but it just sucks that his legacy has to be tarnished like this. Frankly, I think it's fitting that Italy won because I think they were the classier and more consistent team. Let alone the fact that the bosses back home at the Italian clubs are screwing the players by being greedy and fixing matches. As a side note, in my opinion, Portugal was the most exciting team to watch the entire tournament and C. Ronaldo the most exciting player.</p>
<p>Ronaldinho and the fast guy in the red shoes for Germany were my favorites. Although I only watched 6 games I still liked them the best.</p>
<p>I was rooting for Italy because they invented pizza... The Italian goalie,(Gianluigi Boffon?) was my favorite player by far. That last save was incredible. (Although he dove the wrong way in the PK's every single time.)</p>
<p>buffon's save to keep out zizou's header in the 104th minute was truly spectacular, he saved italy's chances because that would have been the golden goal</p>
<p>"he fast guy in the red shoes for Germany"
Odonkor is his name.</p>
<p>Yup, he is really fun to watch</p>
<p>What a shame he appeared in only one match. It would have been nice to see him play in the Germany v Portugal game.</p>
<p>Are you sure he wasn't in two? In the one I watched they said he was a star sub and helped germany win another game (I assumed in the WC).</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure. I watched all Germany games except for the one with Poland. But he really did a great job against Argentina.</p>
<p>K your wrong cuz he played in Germany vs Italy game as well :)</p>
<p>Did he? You're probably right then. A lot of the games were in 4 am in Korea so I sort of tended to fall asleep if the games goes past the second half.</p>
<p>Ya since he's a sub he didn't go in until 2nd half when they tried to use him as their clutch player, so that's probably why.</p>
<p>Yea a few of Germany's starters were a huge disappointment. #1 BALLACK. He didn't do much. But most of their starters were top notch. Their subs were really good too. Too bad that neither Lehman nor Kahn will be in goal next world cup.</p>
<p>Dude Zidane's headbutt was ****ing awesome.
All the ydtmn's and the gif's it inspired... hilarious</p>
<p>
[quote]
Frankly, I think it's fitting that Italy won because I think they were the classier and more consistent team. Let alone the fact that the bosses back home at the Italian clubs are screwing the players by being greedy and fixing matches.
[/quote]
Please Italy being classy? I agree they are consistent (even though France was the better team in the finals match) but they play some of the dirtiest football (USA vs Italy come to mind for this World cup, and Korea vs Italy for the last world cup). And Materrazzi (the defender who Zidane headbutted) is known to be one of the most unsportsmanlike defenders in Serie A.</p>