The mystery of Zizou

I would have posted last night on the World Cup final, but I wasn't yet sure what to say. Congratulations to Italy, I suppose, first of all. But I also can't forgive them for what I think was the most heinous foul of the tournament: when de Rossi gave a clearly intentional elbow to Brian McBride's face during the US-Italy match. De Rossi, you will note, was on the field and took one of the penalty kicks at the end of the final. Nor can I forgive them for winning the Australia match on a dive. Or all the other histrionics we put up with, as usual.

As for the match, Italy dominated the first half, and France dominated the rest of the match. Italy appeared worn out during the second half and extra time. It was France's match to win. Even without Zidane after his red card, the French continued to attack better than the Italians. The Italians laid back and waited for the penalty kicks, which were ultimately decided by a missed kick rather than any heroics on the part of either of the goalkeepers.

Regarding quality of play, this was France's match.

Today, we're still trying to figure out what happened with Zidane and Materazzi. Zidane clearly deserved a red card for his flagrant headbutt into Materazzi's chest (here's the video). It was stupid.

What happened? We don't know... yet, except for the headbutt and the ejection. None of the French players have had very much to say about it. Domenech hasn't said much about it. I haven't heard anything at all from the Italian side. The French papers have largely excoriated Zidane for, as Libé says, bursting his "saintly aura" (see L'Equipe here; Le Monde here; Libé here). Zidane himself has been quiet. We might never have an explanation.

For now we have rumors. One is that Materazzi called Zidane an "Arab terrorist." Another, from the BBC, is that Materazzi made insulting remarks about Zidane's dying mother. Suspicions proliferate about racist comments, especially since Italian soccer in addition to Spanish soccer is infamous for its racism. Whatever it was, I'm almost certain it wasn't simply pushing and shoving that set off Zidane.

Yes, he was tackled hard and fouled all match with little help from the referee. But Zizou is used to that.

Yes, some will say, Zidane has done it before - look at 1998 when he gave the shoe to a Saudi player during a match. That was apparently also due to racist comments by the Saudi player about Zidane's Berber background. We do know that the shy and soft-spoken Zidane has during his entire career - which I have followed - played with elegance and dignity, respect, and calm. The French team - of course, with exceptions - has almost always played with a strong sense of fairplay. I've seen it even in the second- and third-tier French leagues. They play a clean, lovely game. The headbutt is so unlike Zidane, that the event remains mysterious.

Today, Zidane wins the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament (with Fabio Cannavaro deservedly receiving the Silver Ball). Zidane's Golden Ball is deserved.

I'm not a fairweather soccer fan (like this twit or this one). I've watched Zidane almost his entire career. I've seen him play the beautiful game in every sense of the expression. He is one of the greatest ever to play soccer.

I'll miss you. Bye Zizou.



UPDATE:

Lindsay is outraged.

Asad is perplexed.

Podhoretz claims ignorance and stupidity (headbutting himself).