Marco Materazzi reveals what he told Zinedine Zidane that led to the infamous headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final and his eventual sending off.
One of the most iconic moments in football history is Zinedine Zidane getting booked in his last ever football match after headbutting Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final. The pair had each scored a goal in the first half for their respective sides. After 90 minutes however, the scoreline remained the same.
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Zidane and Materazzi were then seen having s conversation during extra time. The French captain then planted his head onto Materazzi’s chest and was given a sending off. Italy went on to win the World Cup on penalties but the incident was what the whole world was talking about.
There have been various speculations on what really happened between them. However, the Italian has now opened on the incident and revealed the exchange between them that led to the infamous headbutt.
Marco Materazzi reveals what he told Zinedine Zidane
“Zidane’s headbutt? I wasn’t expecting it in that moment” Materrazi said on his Instagram live as quoted by AS.
“I was lucky enough that the whole episode took me by surprise because if I had expected something like that to happen and had been ready for it, I’m sure both of us would have ended up being sent off,” the defender explained.
“There had been a bit of contact between us in the area. He had scored France’s goal in the first half and our coach (Marcello Lippi) told me to mark him. After that first brush between us, I apologised but he reacted badly,” Materazzi recalled.
“The late tackles, altercations and exchanges continued until 110 minutes, when things reached a head.
“After the third clash, I frowned and he retorted: ‘I’ll give you my shirt later’. I replied that I’d rather have his sister than his shirt.”
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