Who says the French are pussies?
 

Zisou says he doesn't regret what he did because it would have made Materazzi "right"

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Zidane apologizes for violent conduct during World Cup final, says Materazzi insulted his family
Zidane apologizes for violent conduct during World Cup final, says Materazzi insulted his family

By ANGELA DOLAND, Associated Press Writer
July 12, 2006

AP - Jul 10, 10:44 am EDT
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PARIS (AP) -- An apology, but no regrets and no detailed explanation on what set him off.

That's where French soccer star Zinedine Zidane left things Wednesday during widely broadcast television interviews that attempted to decipher his ugly head-butting of an Italian opponent during the World Cup final.

He did say he was spurred by cruel insults to his mother and sister. But the exact exchange between France's captain and Marco Materazzi remains a mystery. Zidane never was specific about what enraged him. So, for the moment, the words stay between them.

"I would rather have taken a punch in the jaw than have heard that," he told the Canal-Plus television network, stressing that Materazzi's language was "very harsh," and that he uttered the insults several times.

In his first public comments since Sunday's match, Zidane repeatedly apologized to fans -- especially to children. But he said he didn't regret the abrupt, violent outburst that marked the end of his illustrious 18-year professional career.

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"I tell myself that if things happened this way, it's because somewhere up there it was decided that way," the 34-year-old midfielder said in an interview on TF1 television. "And I don't regret anything that happened, I accept it."

Zidane and Materazzi exchanged words after Italy broke up a French attack in extra-time. Seconds later, Zidane lowered his head and rammed Materazzi in the chest, knocking him to the ground.

Zidane was sent off, reducing France to 10 men. Italy went on to win in a penalty shootout with Zidane in the locker room.

The act of aggression marred the end of the World Cup, with many warning it would tarnish the legacy of Zidane, who retired after the tournament.

Wednesday, he stressed he felt no regret "because that would mean (Materazzi) was right to say all that."

"There was a serious provocation," Zidane said. "My act is not forgivable. But they must also punish the true guilty party, and the guilty party is the one who provokes."

For days, sports fans around the world have been riveted by the question: What could Materazzi have said to set Zidane off in the last few moments of his illustrious, 18-year career? Media from Brazil to Britain hired lip readers to try to figure it out, then came up with different answers.

Materazzi has acknowledged he insulted Zidane, without giving specifics. At nearly the same moment Zidane was on TV, excerpts from a Materazzi interview were posted on an Italian paper's Web site. He denied insulting Zidane's mother.

"I didn't say anything to him about racism, religion or politics," Materazzi told the Gazzetta dello Sport. "I didn't talk about his mother, either. I lost my mother when I was 15, and even now I still get emotional talking about her."

Zidane "has always been my hero," Materazzi said. "I admire him a lot."

Materazzi spoke to Zidane in Italian. Zidane, who played several years for Juventus in Turin, speaks Italian.

Despite the head-butt, Zidane was awarded the Golden Ball award for best player at the World Cup -- though FIFA president Sepp Blatter has suggested Zidane could be stripped of the honor.

"The winner of the award is not decided by FIFA, but by an international commission of journalists," Blatter said in Italian newspaper La Repubblica. "That said, FIFA's executive committee has the right, and the duty, to intervene when faced with behavior contrary to the ethics of the sport."

FIFA's disciplinary committee opened an inquiry Tuesday into Zidane's behavior. His red card was not unusual: Zidane was sent off 14 times in his career at the club and international level.

Despite his temper, Zidane is better known for his sportsmanship and dancer-like technique. He is a national hero for the French and a symbol of a young, multicultural France. Born to Algerian immigrants, Zidane grew up playing on concrete in an impoverished neighborhood of Marseille.

President Jacques Chirac has had only kind words for Zidane since the match -- reassuring him that France still "admires and loves him." Many in France already have pardoned Zidane: A poll published Tuesday in Le Parisien newspaper showed 61 percent of the 802 people questioned forgave Zidane.

Zidane said many people have asked him not to retire, but he said he would not change his mind.

"I won't go back on it, at least I hope so. ... It's definitive," he said.

Zidane told TF1 television he was "going to rest, and then move on to something else."

AP Sports Writer Andrew Dampf in Rome contributed to this report.



Updated on Wednesday, Jul 12, 2006 6:56 pm EDT

yea the french can fight, it's just that they ALWAYS loose

Another case of when "keeping it real" goes wrong...™

LOL

That is freaking great dude..LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

But it is true the french will get into a fight but they always need someone to save there a$$es. If not for america the french would b speaking german right now.

The Zidane head butting game...

http://break.com/index/zidane_head_butt_game.html

My Jewler told me about this. Pretty funny.

REP! :thumbs:

Who says the French are pussies?
 

I do. The Germans do too. The English and Spanish would probably agree as well. So would Lance Armstrong.

It's probably a long and distinguished list.

He isnt French..his family is Algerian or something like that. So the French are still pussies. National motto is we surrender

LOL :rofl:

C'mon! He head butted the guy in the CHEST!?!? Any American athlete would have head butted the guy in the FACE and thrown a few punches!! Even better was the Italian's reaction - he fell to the ground as if he had been tazered!

Obviously I am not a soccer guy, but for all the european's comments that our game of footbal is for savages, I would have to say their game of football is for babies; all of the falling to the ground as if you had just been shot acts put on by every player that was even touched by an opponent got real old real fast. :twitch:

There is no more worthless a people, country, or culture in the history of the planet and you have lessened yourself in the eyes of humanity for even suggesting otherwise.

You are awarded no rep and may God have mercy on your eternal soul...

bwahahahaha....at this thread..

smurf, you poor bastard

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:rofl:

classic.... I saw this live (well, live when the showed the replay) and I just could not believe it.... I really couldn't believe it when they implied, initially, that there was nothing that could be done about it. Regardless of his history he deserved the red card. God knows I would be there with him if this happened to me. But - then I would deserve it too.....

There are some hot french chicks.

French, soccer players? Pussies? I think so.

French, cross dressing, mimes? Not necessarily pussies.

It's the soccer that makes them pussies.

Well, Americans are fat, loud and stupid.

Some are. Just like some French are obnoxious, stinky, chain smokers. :D

Indeed.

Who's not turned on by hairy armpits, infrequent bathing, and a woman who'll leave you for a soldier in the next army to liberate her country?

You say that like it's a bad thing.

:'(

Alizee probably has the most famous .GIF file in the world....

http://www.mindgamez.com/me/alizee/alizee_dance.gif

Fixed your post...

Nein.

It's the fact that the frogs embrace soccer that lowers the sport and all take part in it...