World Cup Soccer

[Vermonter]

I dont see him as a thug, simply an idiot. He's been a targeted player for years, that happens when 3 times in your career your picked as the best player on the planet for a given year. But he should have learned years ago to put up with the extra little holds the great players get when the refs arent looking, and more importantly in light of yesterday, he should have long ago learned to tune out any verbal insults designed to get under his skin. I dont care what the italian defender said to him, his team needed him in a final, even more than normally once Thierry went off with cramps.

[spence]

On that I'd agree

Rumor has it he called him a "dirty terrorist"

-spence

[Vermonter]

Originally Posted by spence

On that I'd agree

Rumor has it he called him a "dirty terrorist"

-spence

Yeah thats ESPN sportscenter was surmising tonight also. I have trouble believing that this is the first time an opponent or fan has taunted him for being a terrorist, given the passion/hysteria soccer causes in Europe. Given his background/ethnicity, I'd say he's heard similar taunts before.

[Clogston29]

Whatever the insult or actions the Italians and Materazzi in particular used they got the reaction that they wanted (Materazzi claims that he made a comment about Zindane's wife and that he does not even know what a terrorist is). If Zidane had it to do over I'm sure he would have waited until after the game and then laid Materazzi out and flipped off the FIFA brass on the way off the field but he reacted to the moment. To play at that level (he may very well be the best player to come along in several generations) requires so much intensity and a personality that is a little off (look a Maradon - he's wacked). Just look at some of the greatest players ever and alot of them were always right on the edge of control. My favorite player, Eric Cantona, drop kicked a fan for a racial insult as an extreme example. Zidane is not a thug. He's an emotional player who got pushed over the edge. Razor Neil Ruddock is an example of a thug, and and entertaining one at that.

[spence]

It's getting more clear now...

I didn't realize Zidane was the son of Algerian immigrants...

So the story goes his opponent called him "the son of a terrorist whore" before telling him to "go f'off for good measure".

Doesn't justify his actions, but in all honesty I'd think a lot of people would have done worse

-spence

[Clogston29]

I read an article that he spent his first year of club soccer in France on kitchen duty due to fights with teamates over racial remarks. Its obviously something that he's dealt with his whole life. And when you look at it, chances are that that game was going to penalties with or without Zidane and the result most likely would have been the same. Actually, he got kind of lucky on his earlier PK or there may have never been overtime.

Also, Bartez didn't deserve to win one World Cup, having him go down as a two time winner would not be fair to any other keeper who has two. Watching him play, I don't know how he ever got the status that he had a few years ago as one of the best in the world.

[Surfcastinglife]

http://www.ggzidane.com/gallery/zidane.gif

[spence]

Well, the US commentators certainly didn't give him any props...you'd get nervous every time he'd touch the ball.

But to say he doesn't deserve to win two is a bit of a stretch. It's a team sport after all...

-spence