Well, the World Cup is over. This was my first World Cup, and I have to say I enjoyed it. It seems there were a lot of games that went into penalty shots, and those were particularly thrilling. And by god, I had no idea soccer had so much drama. From the tears, the dropping to the ground to force penalties, faked injuries, yelling, shirt pulling, tripping, and in the end, headbutting, it was just as good as any television melodrama.
Congrats to Italy, although I have to wonder how satisfying it is to win the World Cup on penalty shots. In the end it seems that both teams played equally well, so both really won. But the competitor in me would always feel a bit empty if my team won on penalties, as exciting as they are.
My deepest thanks goes to French player Zinedine Zidane, who proved to me that even adults who aren't involved in the World Wrestling Federation headbutt one another when they get mad. I haven't seen a good headbutt since the 4th grade. Still, I'd really like to know what Materazzi said to him. It must have been some insult.
Arrevederci, World Cup. Until 2010!
8 comments:
Apparently Materazzi said something about his whore Algerian mother...etc. And it turned out that Madame Zidane had been admitted to hospital that very morning.
Who knew?
Still - no excuse.
No excuse indeed. The matter of what Materazzi said needs to be put into context. The media are swimming around darling Zidane. Poor him that awful rough disgusting Italian must have said something *really* bad to upset Zidane so. Lets broaden the picture. It did not happen that Materazzi said one thing and and Zidane reacted and butted him for it. Verbals will have been happening all through the game. It happens in the lowest level of Sunday league football right to the top of the game. Zidane would have been as verbal to create the tension between the two. And it went on and on until Zidane reacted the way he did. Total thuggery, no way to react whatever the verbal provocation.
Mel, just another quick point. It matters not whether your team wins on penalties, whether you win with the last kick of the match or by scoring a goal in the first minute and defending your lead for the remaining 89. To win the World Cup feels so good, to be world champions for the fourth time feels so great, as a fan for once you really don't mind. You won. And that's what you celebrate.
Forza Italia.
I completely disagree. After reading what Materazzi said to Zidane, his reaction was kinda calm.
Had he said that to me, I'd have headbutted him and then gone back to finish off the job.
Luckily most people agree that his reaction to a jumped up Italian football player certainly isn't enough to mar his career. He's still loved in France and has won 'Player of the Tournament'.
As for Materazzi..... pah!
So, you 'read' in the media what Materazzi said to Zidane, take it as true and base your comments on such speculation? Shame on you.
I never thought for a moment that YOU of all people would try to justify what Materazzi said to Zidane. You may be Italian dude but it doesn't mean you should turn a blind eye to the evil Materazzi. You should be offering words of support to the 'Player of the Tournament'.
Are you not ashamed? ;-)
Honestly, I expect adults, especially those who are in the public eye, to behave better (and that includes the insults, too). Zidane could have settled the score later on, if he felt it was that important to him. Still, after watching the World Cup it seems that soccer is made up of a bunch of players who are basically adult children, which is part of what made it fun, I guess.
My main point is, why the headbutt? What happened to using your fists?
It's called emotional maturity, which Mr. Zidane obviously doesn't have. Mr. Materazzi simply used psychological warfare tactics and succeeded.
For example, in late 2001 to early 2002 when US forces were trying to root out Taliban fighters in Afghanistan, the US Forces had loudspeakers on their armored vehicle and projected insults in Arabic such as "where are all you cowardly, girly Taliban? Can you not stand up to us etc.." And as people who are not emotionally mature, the Taliban fell right into the trap and their machismo was the cause of their untimely demise. As they moved from their hiding spots in anger prepared to fight the US troops, they were essentially cut down where they stood by the more emotionally mature, well trained US forces.
So, all Zidane should have done was realized that Materazzi was playing head games and apparently they worked.
Your point may be valid, but the example you give to demonstrate it is a bit extreme!
Zidane demonstrated he is a common thug with his actions. If he wanted revenge what could have been better than staying on the pitch and helping his team to win the final? Instead he assaulted Materazzi. It was pure simple common assault from a common thug. Materazzi would be justly entitled to press criminal charges against Zidane. It is to his credit that he is moving past the incident.
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