Former Italy national team player Marco Materazzi has finally confirmed the words he made to French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane at the 2006 World Cup final, which led to the famous, infamous headbutt in which the latter was involved and was sent off from the match.
“You know the low side talk in the NBA? My comment wasn’t some kind of trash talk,” Materazzi said in an interview with Italian Football TV. “He offered to give me his shirt at the end of the game, and I said, ‘No, I prefer your sister.’ “.
Zidane had previously spoken in an interview with the newspaper “L’Equipe” regarding the incident, saying: “He provoked me by talking regarding my sister at night. I am not proud of what I did, but this headbutt” is part of my career.
He added, “At that time, I was more fragile. He did not insult my mother, but he insulted my sister.”
The 2006 World Cup final was supposed to be an occasion for an ideal retirement for one of the most important players in the roosters national team, by adding a second world title following France won the 1998 World Cup.
The start was excellent, with Zidane opening the scoring from a penalty kick in the seventh minute, before Materazzi equalized for Italy, and the match then entered extra time.
Materazzi, who is known for provoking the players, scored his “second goal” when Zidane lost his patience with comments regarding the latter’s sister, so the famous “butt” on the Italian’s chest that knocked him down and dropped Zidane from the French equation with a red card ten minutes before the match ended in extra time, was the fourth title for Italy. Through penalty kicks, which Zizou watched from the dressing room.
