http://naijanet.com/news/source/2006/jul/11/1001.html]Lip readers say Materazzi called Zidane "the son of a terrorist w****"[/url]. Another speculation was that after Zidane said "if you want my shirt I'll give it to you after the game", Materazzi retorted that he'd rather take the shirt off Zidane's wife. Zidane's behavior is still inexcusable as far as I'm concerned, even if this is true.
Oops, that didn't turn out well. I should learn to preview. http://nigeriaworld.com/cgi-bin/axs/ax.pl?http://naijanet.com/news/source/2006/jul/11/1001.html
Take it for what it's worth, but I just read in Wikipedia that FIFA could take away Italy's World Cup title if the Italian guy is found to have hurled racial slurs at the French guy...
That would cause a riot in every town in Italy..but then again what are the chances they can prove it. Someone would have had to hear it like a side official or something. And from the looks of it they were basically talking really low to each other and no one else would have been able to hear...would all be hear say...either way it would be a shame if it truly was a racial slur.
Officially, yes, they could take away the Cup. No chance in hell it happens, though. If he is found to have used a racist slur, he will most likely be suspended. My guess would be that it would be a significant penalty as well. FIFA might want to set a standard and make him an example. Problem still remains that it would be very hard to prove.
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/WorldCup/News/2006/07/11/1679168-ap.html Head-butt turns ugly Materazzi admits insulting Zizou By ANDREW ROBERTS Tue, July 11, 2006 MILAN, Italy (AP) - Marco Materazzi admits he insulted Zinedine Zidane before the France captain head-butted him in the World Cup final. Materazzi denies calling him a "terrorist." "I did insult him, it's true," Materazzi said in Tuesday's Gazzetta dello Sport. "But I categorically did not call him a terrorist. I'm not cultured and I don't even know what an Islamic terrorist is." Zidane and Materazzi exchanged words after Italy broke up a French attack in extra-time of Sunday's final in Berlin. 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 won the game in a penalty shootout. "I held his shirt for a few seconds only, then he turned round and spoke to me, sneering," the Italian defender said. "He looked me up and down, arrogantly and said: 'If you really want my shirt, I'll give it to you afterwards."' The 32-year-old Inter Milan player did not elaborate exactly on what he said to Zidane. "It was one of those insults you're told tens of times and that always fly around the pitch," he said. Media reports, based on interpretations by lip-readers, have suggested that Materazzi called Zidane a terrorist or insulted his mother or sister. Materazzi denies these claims, too. "For me, the mother is sacred, you know that," Materazzi told the newspaper. Materazzi is no stranger to controversy. He was suspended for two months for punching Siena defender Bruno Cirillo after a Serie A game in February 2004, and earned condemnation following a brutal tackle on Sweden and Juventus striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in October 2005. Materazzi was also sent off three times while playing for Everton in the 1998-99 season. One Italian senator even suggested that Materazzi didn't merit selection for the Italian team because of his physical style. Zidane also is known for having a temper. He was sent off for stomping on a Saudi Arabian opponent at the 1998 World Cup, while at Germany 2006 he was banned for France's group match against Togo. Five years ago with Juventus, Zidane head-butted an opponent in a Champions League match against Hamburger SV after being tackled from behind. Meanwhile, Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni accused FIFA of double standards, noting that soccer's governing body named Zidane as the tournament's best player after his head-butt, while Italy forward Francesco Totti was kicked out of the 2004 European Championship for spitting in an opponent's face. "I notice a difference in the way in which Totti was treated after the spit and the way in which Zinedine Zidane has been lauded as a champion of soccer, even though he is held responsible for such a violent blow that it could even have had devastating effects," Veltroni said. FIFA announced Tuesday it will open a disciplinary investigation into Zidane's conduct. FIFA also said that the ballot box for the tournament's top player - voted by journalists - was open until after the final had ended, making it impossible to know how many ballots were cast before the match and during it.
this materazzi guy is something else...on top of being a dirty player, he's now claiming that he's ignorant and stupid...lol...the fact that he won't disclose what was said leads me to believe that it was something more than just your normal trash talking...i'm sure we'll find out exactly what was said pretty soon
I disagree. Any game with Maradona in is a god-send game for human beings. Unless our life last more than 200 years, we won't have chance to see another Maradona coming, and now sadly, the semi one, Zidane, is gone too.
Of course there is a double standard...let's see Zizou is one of the greatest midfielders/playmakers/players ever while Totti is an overhyped very good club player who fails to show up in WCs & Euro Cups I did not hear or see Totti during the entire final match until he received his metal after the match. Everyone saying they don't know what to do now that the WC is over and can't wait another 4 yrs needs to get Fox Soccer Channel or ESPN Deportes and you can catch the best leagues in the World. I am sorry but the MLS while great in developing american talent, does not come close to the other leagues in the world. I can only watch when it is the Dynamos. Here's my starting 11 all tourney team (These are the guys that really stood out, there are others that can be placed in there as well): Fwds: Klose (Ger) Torres (Spa) Halfbacks: Essien (Gha) Zidane (Fra) Riquelme (Arg) Ribery (Fra) Fullbacks: Frings (Ger) Cannavaro (Ita) Sorin (Arg) Miguel (Por) Goalie: Buffon (Ita) Super Sub: Joaquin (Spa) Best Young Player: Podolski (Ger) I would put Messi ahead of him if he played more Most dissappointing player: Ronaldinho Most dissappointing team: USA (I didn't pick them to get out of the group stage but thought they would at least be competitive); Close 2nd England-failed to play one good match for the amount of talent they have. Most surprising team: France-I didn't expect them to make it past the round of 16 and go to the finals. Best team story: T&T-fantastic showing for first timers. What are some of yours?
Possible good news for US Soccer... Klinsmann quits as Germany coach FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- Juergen Klinsmann, who coached Germany to a third-place finish at the World Cup last week, is stepping down, the co-president of the German soccer federation said early Wednesday. "I regret his decision, but we have to accept it," Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder said. The mass-circulation Bild newspaper and the Sueddeutsche Zeitung first reported in their Wednesday editions that Klinsmann wouldn't extend his contract that ended with the World Cup. Klinsmann called German soccer federation (DFB) co-president Theo Zwanziger and national team manager Oliver Bierhoff to tell them that he would not be staying in the job, the papers reported. DFB spokesman Harald Stenger confirmed that Klinsmann had called Zwanziger and Bierhoff but would not disclose the details of the conversation. The two newspapers said Klinsmann's assistant Joachim Loew was the likely successor. Klinsmann's rejuvenated team went beyond expectations by finishing third, after losing to eventual champion Italy 2-0 in the semifinals. Klinsmann, 41, had no previous coaching experience when he took over an ailing German squad two years ago. After Germany beat Portugal 3-1 to take third place, Klinsmann said he would think about his future over the next few days and consult with his California-based family. ____________________________________________________________ I would like to see him as the US coach. It's time to make the next step and become a true world power. Bruce Arena is the best US born coach ever. He took the national team as far as he could take them. I think Juergen can be the man to take us to the next level.
best young player : Podolski(21yrs old) / Eissen(23 yrs old) MVP: Zidane (they would not have made it without him) Most dissappointing team: Czech (had one good game...their best players were too old) & Brazil (If they played the right players they would have done so much better...sad they did not have the ballz to keep Ronaldo and Ronaldinho on the bench) Most dissappointing player :Totti (just showed us how over rated he is) / Henry (amazing to see how much better he plays for Arsenal) Most exciting team: Ivory Coast (amazing individual talents...need to learn how to play like a team) Most hated team: Italy (can't believe the floppers won the cup...hope this does motivate other teams to use this tactic) Team to look out for in 2010: Ghana (youngest team...average age of 24)
Fwds: Klose (Ger) Crespo (Arg) Halfbacks: C. Ronaldo (Por) Zidane (Fra) Pirlo (Ita) Ribery (Fra) Fullbacks: Marquez (Mex) Cannavaro (Ita) Thuram (Fra) Terry (Eng) Goalie: Buffon (Ita) Best young players: Podolski (Ger) Eissen (Gha) Adebayor (Tog) C. Ronaldo (Por) [I'm sure there are some guys I'm missing] Tournament MVP: Zidane (Fra)
Though a good young player, there is no way I'd have Ribery ahead of Pirlo or Raquelme. No way. Henry looked pretty awesume to me since the 3rd game. Fluid, quick, and strong. Against Italy I thought he was the only one finding cracks in the defense through his individual talent.
So if I understand correctly the higher the value of a player the higher the willingness to accept every kind of action by a player?
On second thought, I would definitely put Henry ahead of Crespo at forward. Ribery had a great World Cup IMO and I would still put him ahead of Riquelme.
It'd be awesome if we could somehow get him. I think Arena, even after our bad showing at this cup, did a great job getting us to were we are. But know it's time for some new blood. I think USSF will be willing to throw some money and Klinsmann, and with the fact that he lives here already and wouldn't have to deal with the pressure of other countries he may be willing to agree.
I don't follow soccer anymore so I didn't watch any of the games until the Final. From what little I do know, Ronaldo is now washed up and Ronaldinho is one of the most gifted players in the world...? Or is that just the hype machine at work? Why do you say they should have kept Ronaldinho on the bench?
