Farewell to Zinedine Zidane

Not even the most daring fantasies could imagine such an end! Until the evening of July 6, 2006, Zidane had taken France by the hand, bringing it to the final. The World Cup in Germany in 2006 was the right competition to end the football played with glory. Shines with assists and goals against Spain, Brazil and Portugal. In the final, he scores with a penalty, opening the score. A little later, Italy countered with Materazzi. He is the protagonist of Italy, with a red card and a goal during the matches until the final. In just 20 minutes of play, the World Cup final has already registered the names of its two protagonists! In the 14th minute of extra time, after a Shanjol cross, Zidane, in the center of the Italian defense, rises in the air, all alone, and hits a powerful header. Buffon makes the tackle of his life by punching the ball into the corner above the crossbar. Zidane can't believe his eyes. Somewhere he loses his composure. After six minutes, he is confronted again in the Italian area with Materazzi. It is the leitmotif of the final that does not easily catch the eye of spectators and televiewers around the globe. Zidane is the outstanding player who does not hold back his nerves. Marko Materazzi has a special mission from Marcello Lippi to mark him closely and neutralize him. He is the defender who will end his career with 60 yellow and 25 red cards. 110th minute of the game. Zidane, along with the other French players, leave the Italians' area after a failed action. Anyway, he manages to say under his breath to Materazzi, who pulled him out of his shirt again – "if you're interested in my shirt, I'll give it to you after the match!" . Later, Materazzi's answer arrives – "I prefer your sister!" Then Zidane comes back, approaches Materazzi menacingly and…writes history in his own way! His header didn't kill Materazzi but it certainly killed Zidane's entire brilliant career! It was the unannounced end to the final act of one of the greatest players of all time! That football would be poorer without Zidane was not something that came suddenly from Horacio Elizondo's red card. So that his end as a player was at the poorest level of sports education, Zinedine Zidane himself took care of this. In fact, as exceptional as he was, scoring a goal, conceding his side's only clean sheet and being sent off in extra-time and in his final game, Zidane was clearly the protagonist. great in the second final of France, just like eight years ago against Brazil in Paris!