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Editor
Holder of a Master's degree in international law, I realized at the end of my university career that it was important to evolve in a field that you appreciate. Overnight, I decided to put an end to my parents' dream, who saw in me a future lawyer, to make a living from my passion: sport. Since then, I have covered transfer windows and sports news, trying to keep readers informed as best as possible.
18 years after the 2006 World Cup final, Marco Materazzi spoke candidly about his clash with Zinédine Zidane and the famous headbutt he received in the chest. During extra time, the French player broke down after the insults of his transalpine opponent who, initially, had fallen out with Gennaro Gattuso.
Zinédine Zidane's international career ended one evening in July 2006, in Germany. The 1998 world champion hoped to achieve the double, he left the stage with a memorable headbutt on Marco Materazzi. It all started with an insult from the Italian international. The former Inter player allegedly insulted the sister of Zinedine Zidane.
Materazzi says everything about the clash
« This is all true and those who have played football understand it. Maybe yes, I was smart to avoid it and he jumped to put his head in. And anyway it's true that I would have wanted his jersey. But there you go, I answered that and this happened » confided Materazzi on RMC. Especially since the Italian was white hot after an altercation with Gennaro Gattuso.
“There was nervousness”
« Initially it was Gattuso's fault. What happened was that during the first period of extra time, I don't know if you remember, there was a huge save from Buffon. And on this action, in reality, I clash with Gattuso because he blames me for not having been marking Zidane who had struck while I was supposed to be marking Trezeguet. It was him, Gattuso, who should have been marking Zidane. So in reality he and I butted heads. And after what happened, I said that if I had not retained Zidane we would have been in difficulty. We found ourselves clashing, there was nervousness and this is what happened behind » he blurted.
