Thought it was only us Brits who celebrate being plucky in defeat. That incident was the best thing about that final, it was so dull. Didn't Materazzi call Zidane's mother a terrorist? Or something to that description.
Check out how big it actually is... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...mortalised-in-France-with-5-metre-statue.html It's even called 'Headbutt'.
That is absolutely fantastic! I hate the French, but credit where it's due that's a masterpiece of one of my favourite ever world cup moments. I want one
Yes that does capture a World Cup moment nicely...perhaps we should have one of Deano producing that magnificent volley to promote us to the Premier League? What an immortalisation of a fantastic memory that would be!
Nup, complete myth - well according to Marco anyway.... From memory he recounts the conversation as thus: ZZ: "You havent stopped following me all match. How about I just give you my shirt afterwards?" MM: "I'd rather have your sister." I reckon it's a pretty good comeback.
Zidane refused to repeat what was said, but he has stated that he insulted his mother and his sister, so I'd say he probably said more than you've asserted.
Now then Bum Chin. Will you be buying Almeyda's autobiography? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...rmer-Argentina-midfielder-Matias-Almeyda.html
I havent clicked on the link but I'm aware of what he has written and judging by the link title it sounds enormously over egged as per the way of the British media. The extract I read yesterday stated that as a Parma player Roma players asked 'as a favour' for them to lose a match that they had nothing at stake in. They were mid-table, safe and Roma were challenging for the title. Almeyda went to huge lengths in the extract I read to state that NO MONEY OR INDEED ANY BRIBE was offered. He then went on to great lengths to again describe how NONE OF HIS TEAM MATES AGREED TO THE FAVOUR. Does it say this on the Tele page or have they merely ignored what Almeyda says and made their own story to perpetuate an existing myth in the British media that Italian football is bereft with match fixing, despite none of the supposed investigations rfeferenced EVER being about match fixing? EDIT - oh I just clicked and - surprise, surprise - they have omitted the parts about there being no bribe, financial or otherwise, offered. And - again surprise, surprise - whereas the headline screams 'Italian football filled with corruption, doping and match fixing' yet in the article the reference to 'match-fixing is the very last line of the article and such a wishy, washy comment it is preposterous. Beginning to see my point?
Zidane was my favourite ever player ! It was such a shame that was the last thing he did on a football pitch !
It gives direct quotations from his autobiography. Judging by the quotes, I don't think that the headline has been massively over-egged
How is there match-fixing involved? A third party company says it has heard that Roma players have asked if they will lose the match and then the players dont agree anyway? WHAT?!? That's like a bigwig at KC saying to City that he has heard the oppposition team want them to lose and City saying "Dont be daft, why would we do that?" The only assertion to it being successful is some players in the last game of the season with nothing to play for might have not given 100%. OH MY GOD - CALL THE COPS!!!! That happens EVERY SINGLE YEAR in England. Have you ever heard the term 'the players are already on their holidays'?!? Yet we never hear allegations of match-fixing. Funny eh? Let me put it another way....it's the last game of the season last year and QPR know a win will guarantee them safety at the expense of Bolton but this would cost Man City the title. QPR, as it happens, are winning in injury time until word gets out to the players that Bolton have lost at Stoke so they are mathmatically safe no matter what their own result is. All of sudden, the QPR players relax, stop playing and Man City turnaround a losing margin to win and take the title in the process in dramatic circumstances. Did a nyone accuse QPR of match fixing once they knew there were safe? Of course they didnt. This is EXACTLY THE SAME on the pitch situation as painted by Almeyda. Jesus H....
Completely off topic now but a fab article about Gazza's short career in Serie A and his debut 20 years ago today: http://www.football-italia.net/25502/gazza’s-lazio-debut-–-20-years-today
It is not exactly the same. I read the last part as him saying that some of his team mates called it a favour (losing the match). Granted I have not read all of the book to read it all in context, but the quotes do seem to be a damning indictment on the integrity of the Italian game by a player who spent 8 years in Serie A. Unless he's lying, in which case he'll be sued, or will wake up with a horses head on his pillow (unless there is no corruption of course).
It's a nice statue but not sure why they would want to make one celebrating that incident. Maybe we will get one over here of Gazza getting his balls squeezed by Vinnie Jones but no doubt will be some sad David Beckham related cack instead
He isnt lying - he jkust didnt say those things about match fixing!!! Are you actually reading anything Almeyda said on this topic? He CLEARLY states that the players were not approached to fix a match and they wouldnt have done so anyway. Right, Ive got a different headline using exactly the safe info: "Italian football true and honest after rumour reaches players that they are being asked to deliberately lose a match in which they have nothing at stake and they refuse to do so".
