[SkyPilot]

One of the most disgusting and childish things I have ever seen in sports. One minute, he is smiling and talking to the Italian player. A split second later when the Italian has his guard down, he head butts him, and the Italian crumples to the ground in agony.

[Sam's Army]

I guess the French coach didn't get the right astrologer for the day...who would have told him not to field Zidane...

[leadpenny]

Could have fractured the guys sternum.

[The Old Hoosier]

It was really a cheap shot.

Still, I wonder what Materazzi said that made him suddenly change his tone?

[AgThorn]

I think Marco deserves credit not only for the goal he achieved in regular play, as well as the penalty kick score he personally made but 'mostly' for his getting France to throw the match by appealing to Zidane's emotional side and getting him to head butt him. What a great italian strategy to remove the #1 French penalty kicker!! Go Italy!!

[twntaipan]

That was the ugliest thing I have ever seen in sports--and there have been some ugly one through the years.

So typically French.

[Gomez]

YouTube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBV52GPhNjw

[Wolverine]

French PIG Zidane

[jimbo123]

Typical french muslim.

[JustDoItAlways]

A shot like that to the chest can actually kill a person if the heart is shocked in the wrong way.

[Southack]

"Zinedine Zidane cut short his dazzling World Cup and closed his career with an ugly head butt..."

It's the new French Surrender 2 step.

[LoudRepublicangirl]

I can't even understand the necessity for him to do that. It's kind of like Tyson biting Holyfield's ear. It was completely uncalled for.

[IronJack]

Worse, it was Zidane who shot the goal for France earlier in the game. And who put in the penalty kick against Portugal that put France into the finals. This ridiculous tantrum could well be his final act as a professional footballer. What a way to end a career!

That said, I have to give a reluctant hand to the French team. They played an excellent match and were a formidable challenge to the Italians. The final could have easily gone either way.

[citizencon]

Zidane's head was much bigger than the country he was representing...

[SkyPilot]

Here is the guy he took the cheap to, Marco Materazzi.

My daughter thinks he's cute.

[MissEdie]

Typical cowardly behavior from a Frenchman.

[Michael.SF.]

One minute, he is smiling and talking to the Italian player

You saw it differently then I.

I saw the Italian player and Zidane mixing it up a bit, tanlgling with each other. Nothing illegal, just routine, but the kind of thing that starts a grudge between players during a game. Then the Italian and Zidane exchanged words, not friendly ones I assumed. Zidane was walking away when the Italian said something over the top. That prompted Zidanes action>

But given all of the above, it was a cheap shot and the SOB deserved to be thrown out.

[kabar]

One of the most disgusting and childish things I have ever seen in sports.

I can think of many others far worse, e.g., the Pacers-Pistons brawl, the Kermit Washington destruction of Rudy T's face, NHL and NFL cheap shots, etc.

[Riptides]

Congratulations to the Italians for spanking the slimy French.

[OldFriend]

He has a history of thuggish acts so this ought not to have been such a surprise.

For shame that the world was watching this time and saw him for what he is.

[goldstategop]

The referee made the right call. To do that to your opponent is a disgrace. France fully deserved to lose just for Zidane's unsportsmanlike conduct alone. In this championship game, France got a big fat red card. A loss.