One of the modern icons in football has to be Zinedine Zidane – that genius Frenchman of Algerian descent who has mesmerized people with his tactical genius and mastery of the game for nearly two decades.
What a sad shame to see the way that Zizou chose, and we repeat chose, to close the final chapter of his illustrious career.
Zidane was of course rightly sent off, and whatever Italy centre back Marco Materazzi said to provoke him, his reaction was totally unacceptable.
It is such a terrible shame. Zidane is a living legend in football – he is one of the all time greats and was still reproducing fantastic form on the pitch – so much so that he was actually voted best player of the tournament.
Words do actually fail to describe the manner in which his career simply winked out. The stage was set – a dream final rematch of 1998 between two illustrious footballing nations. Zidane could have won or he could have lost – that is immaterial. But the way in which he behaved was simply not on. He could have had a fairy tale ending for his career – whether as a winner or a runner-up, but instead, he found himself in a nightmare end, all of his own making.
Zidane has been an ambassador for football for so many years – a quietly spoken man (often partial to a cigarette), always kind and gentle off the pitch. Like any other competitive footballer, he has had moments where the red mist descended on him – but the attack on Materazzi ranked as badly as the infamous Cantona karate kick into the crowd.
At 34 years of age, Zidane should have had the benefit of experience to deal with the situation that arose when Materazzi clearly said something to wind him up. After all, winding up opposition players is part of the game, it happens in five-a-side games between friends, never mind the biggest football game on earth.
Unfortunately, instead of being remembered as a genius on the pitch, whose skills belied his tired old legs, Zizou is going to be remembered as the world’s most foolish footballing genius.
He was, and still will be, an icon. But perhaps the most damaging aspect of this is not for the older fans, but for the kids. We are not talking about a player such as Wayne Rooney – who is a known hothead and is not touted as a good role model for children. We are talking about the understated Zidane – a player that countless parents have told their children to emulate. He really has, sadly, tarnished his reputation for good with what he did in this, his last ever competitive game. No doubt, Zidane will tour the circuit in testimonials and charity games – but he will never be able to dispel the memory he has now left us as his legacy.
People will still remember the famous Zidane turn, the clever touches and the blistering free kicks he took – but the biggest memory that he has left is his moment of madness, charging like a bull straight into Materazzi’s chest. It was not even a half-hearted attempt - there was a full on grimace of intent on his face as he drove that balding head we all know so well into the sternum of the Italian player.
One hopes that Zidane will eventually apologise for his behaviour and not to Materazzi, that is quite irrelevant. Zizou must apologise to the world for tarnishing our memories of him. A very sad end to one of the most impressive and illustrious careers in football.