Materazzi Details Zidane's Words Before 2006 World Cup Final Headbutt

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Materazzi Details Zidane's Words Before 2006 World Cup Final Headbutt

Marco Materazzi, the former Italian international and Inter Milan stalwart, has revisited the dramatic events of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final, specifically the infamous headbutt delivered by French legend Zinedine Zidane. In a recent interview with 'Vivo Azzurro,' Materazzi provided his perspective on the heated exchange that led to Zidane's expulsion in his final professional match, a moment that has been debated and analyzed extensively over the years.

Materazzi recounted the tense atmosphere during the final match played at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. He explained that the incident wasn't a spontaneous act but rather the culmination of a verbal confrontation. The spark, according to Materazzi, ignited after Gianluigi Buffon's crucial save from a Zidane header. Italy's Gennaro Gattuso was reportedly upset with Materazzi for not marking Zidane more closely on that play.

"When Buffon made that save on Zidane’s header, Gattuso wanted to kill me because I hadn’t marked him," Materazzi revealed. He clarified his defensive positioning, stating, "In reality, I was marking Trezeguet, but in certain situations, it was better not to argue with Rino about what had happened."

Shortly after this moment, Materazzi found himself in close proximity to Zidane again. The Italian defender admitted to holding Zidane's shirt briefly to prevent him from jumping, an action he apologized for twice. It was on the third instance of such contact that Zidane allegedly uttered the now-famous line, "If you want my shirt, I’ll give it to you afterwards." Materazzi claims he responded with words that were "nothing more than the kind of things we used to say to each other as kids when I played on the seafront in Bari." This statement appears to refute earlier, more inflammatory accusations attributed to Materazzi regarding personal insults directed at Zidane's family.

The former defender also touched upon other aspects of the penalty shootout that decided the final. Materazzi disclosed that some of his Italian teammates, including Gattuso and Vincenzo Iaquinta, were hesitant to step up and take penalties. Italy ultimately converted all five of their spot-kicks, while David Trezeguet missed for France, securing Italy's fourth World Cup title. Materazzi himself played 41 times for Italy, scoring two goals, both during the 2006 World Cup campaign.

The 2006 World Cup Final remains one of the most memorable and controversial finals in football history. Materazzi's latest comments add a personal layer to the narrative, offering his account of the verbal provocation and the ensuing infamous headbutt, providing fans with further insight into one of the sport's most iconic moments.

Ekhbary News Agency