Domenech, Lippi Sound Off on Materazzi's Role
(Goal.com) - While France coach Raymond Domenech ironically lauded Italian defender Marco Materazzi for his part in the dismissal of Zinedine Zidane during Sunday's World Cup final, Italy coach Marcello Lippi was swift to defend his player from criticism.
Domenech said referee Horacio Elizondo should have given Zidane more protection.
The France captain was sent off in extra time for head-butting Marco Materazzi in the chest before Les Bleus went on to lose on penalties.
"Materazzi is the man of the match, not Andrea Pirlo," said Domenech, implying that the Inter Milan centre-back, who also scored Italy's equalizer, had deliberately created the final's pivotal moment by provoking Zidane.
"Something must have happened but I don't know what. I don't think (Zidane) decided out of the blue to head-butt him, that he wanted to leave the pitch, something must have happened.
"The referee saw nothing, the assistant referee saw nothing and then we have the fourth official seeing the video replay and telling the referee.
Domenech added that Zidane regretted what had happened, but he would not say whether the winner of FIFA's Golden Ball as the World Cup's top player had apologized.
Italy coach Marcello Lippi criticised Domenech and defended Materazzi, saying his players did nothing to provoke Zidane and get him sent off.
"Domenech made a gesture that was not very nice, a gesture as if Materazzi had done something but there was nothing. There was no acting. There was nothing going on," said Lippi.
"And you will realise that it was not Materazzi who got the attention of the referee. It was the fourth and fifth officials looking at the video at the edge of the pitch," added Lippi.
"We did not do anything. They saw it and they called the attention of the referee. Materazzi was not acting. He took a blow and he was hurt."
Meanwhile, legendary German World Cup-winning player and coach Franz Beckenbauer said he was stunned by Zidane's actions.
"Something must have been said to Zidane. He is actually a reserved and inoffensive person," said Beckenbauer, president of the 2006 World Cup organising committee.
"He weakened his team. We know how sensitive the French are when they lose their captain."
The President of France, Jacques Chirac, present at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, said: "I don't know what happened, why Zidane was punished.
"But I would like to express all the respect that I have for a man who represents at the same time all the most beautiful values of sport, the greatest human qualities one can imagine, and who has honoured French sport and, simply, France.
"It was really a matter of chance," said Chirac of the outcome of Sunday's finale. "So it's not for me to console them. I have simply to express my admiration and respect."
The game finished 1-1 after extra time and went to penalties, previously the graveyard of Italian hopes.
However, this time the Azzurri converted all five of their spot-kicks, while David Trezeguet - a star at Italian club Juvenuts - hit the crossbar for France, who eventually lost 5-3.
"Zidane is the first one to shoot normally but him not being there shouldn't change it that much," Domenech admitted.
"We have no particular plan when it comes to penalties, it depends who is on the pitch and who feels that they want to take them.
"I can't say I'm happy just to be a finalist," Domenech added, before making it clear that it was too soon to reflect on the positive aspects of the final or the World Cup as a whole.
"I don't have the heart to remember the good things right now. Only the disappointment at the moment," he said.
"I am deeply disappointed. We deserved the title based over the whole match.
"Only victory is beautiful and we missed out just by a little thing. We can say it wasn't too bad but it is the Italians who are the world champions.
"They played for the penalties because that was the only option for them."
And the future? "I'll think about that in two or three days' time when I've had a rest and start to forget this very big disappointment.
"We have the meeting of the French federation on Tuesday and the president will say what has been decided, but this is not important now, I'm not worried about that now, I'm disappointed.
"It's not enough for me that we made the final - I thought we should have won.
"We had Patrick Vieira who was injured, that was an important element, and then the sending off reduced us to 10 men. We had the match very much under control at that point so that was indeed sad," concluded Domenech.
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Comments
domenech makes me laugh,everyone saw what Zidane did,his head caved into Materazzi's chest he meant it and it was vicious,Zidane is not that innocent as he did the same thing(head but)in the champions league when playing for juventus,(i belive against hamburg),regardless, zidane is great player but he did not deserve the golden ball for this world cup(Cannavaro did)and as for Domenech saying Italy was looking for the PKs he must be out of his mind,Italy lost 3times on PKs including th 94 final ??,and Totti who is their best PK taker was taken out of the game ?? so much for his theory,it just so happened that France's luck ran out,god bless the idiots.
Posted by: Tony p | July 10, 2006 11:10 PM
Domenech is right ..... Italians are the bigest idiots we all saw what they did to Zidane and Hanry
Posted by: Anonymous | July 11, 2006 02:01 AM
I agree with Tony P in the aspect that Zidane did not deserve to win the golden ball for this world cup after he head-butted Materazzi. My pick for the golden ball would have been Cannavaro as well. What I don't understand is how the french president can go and say that he didn't know what Zidane did or why he was sent off, because it seemed pretty clear to me. I was glad to see the Italians win the world cup.
Posted by: lisa | July 11, 2006 07:51 AM
FRANCE IS LUCKY LUCKY. BOY I CAN'T BELIVE THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE ACTUALLY PRAISED ZIDANE A HERO. WOW WHAT AN EXAMPLE FOR FRENCH CHILDREN. FRANCE WAS LUCKY TO HAVE GOTTEN WERE THEY DID. ITALY IS THE TRUE CHAMPION IN THIS CUP. THEY SHOULD TAKE THE GOLDEN BALL FROM ZIDANE AND GIVE IT TO CANNAVARO.
GO ITALIA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | July 11, 2006 01:22 PM
YEAH LISA I SEE. THE FRECH ARE A BUNCH OF RACIST. BUT YES THEY ARE FRENCH. HA HA HA. SOUR LOSERS
Posted by: Anonymous | July 11, 2006 01:33 PM
I cant believe what I have read so far from the French players. They all try to blame the Italian player. I’m pretty sure both teams exchange words during the game not just this incident. Zidane is a great player but cannot stand to loose and acts out as a baby would. And I realized who the real divers were after watching Henry dive against Portugal and mouda against Italy.
Posted by: James | July 11, 2006 01:39 PM
James I agree again. Frances was lucky to have gotten were they were. Zidane is great player but cannot stand to loose and yes well said he acted like a cry baby with that act. As it goes to show French fans for the most part have been cry baby's and that includes Domenech. What a cry baby you are Domenech.
Posted by: Eli | July 11, 2006 02:01 PM
Boy are the French cry babies. Viva italia
Posted by: Lani | July 11, 2006 02:07 PM
To say that the French were lucky to make it where they did is an impossible statement. "Les Bleus" were the best team in the tournement. They outplayed Italia over the whole of the match, and relied on Fabien barthezs' shaky antics in goal to score, and eventually win the title. France beat a very strong team in Spain to advance to the next round and face, whoelse, Brazil... the undisputed Power in international soccer, they hung with Brazil all game, and made them pay for poor marking on the back post. Having said that, Zidane is one of my all-time favorite players, but what he did was unbelievable, and totally shocking... I am very dissapointed in his actions, and am still urgently waiting for an excuse. Any Comment?
Posted by: striker 14 | July 11, 2006 04:33 PM
Granted france is a great team but to say they outplayed Italy the whole game is wrong as Italy played better in the first half,scoring a goal(and not on questionable penalty kick), hitting the cross bar and having over 60% possession, the second half was france who dominated but besides Zidane's header in OT where was the danger ?? Italy won by playing smart and showing the world how to defend to perfection and counterattack,not to take anything away from France,Germany or whoever,they won and that is what matters,as for Zidane I am so dissapointed as I always admired him as I give credit where is due,but what a butthead!
Posted by: Tony p | July 11, 2006 05:08 PM
Responding to striker 14. France was the best team of the tournament. No. Actually the team that gave everybody troubles and caught tough breaks with the no calls was Ivory Coast. France complains that everybody cheated them. They cheated themselves. I’m tired of all of you France fans who keep complaining on what caused zizou to act crazy. It does not matter what was said a person with so much class as they say would have never done something like that
Posted by: James | July 11, 2006 05:34 PM
Zidane is propably the best player I have seen since Maradona.
Italians always play the same defensive boring game all the time, plus they wanted to save their asses for the scandal that has erupted the Italian league. 11 of their national players are involved in it. But they are always butchers when they play. I do not want to mention the first five minutes of the final game when they hurt Henry.
By the way do you guys know who Materazzi is? if you see him play in Italy you will be surprised to see what a good kickboxer he is during the game.
Zidane did a stupid thing !! Even Zidane knows that. Everyone wanted to see more of him.
Well for people who do not understand Football/"Soccer" Zidane is a great player.
For People who do understand it, he is a Genius
Posted by: Andi | July 11, 2006 05:53 PM
YO JAMES, HOW DO THE ITALIANS PLAY BORING SOCCER IF THE FRENCH LOCKED THEMSELVES ON DEFENCE AGAINST PORTUGAL AND WERE LUCKY TO WIN ON A STUPID PK.FRANCE WAS LUCKY TO BE IN THE FINALS.THEY BARELY GOT INTO THE KNOCKOUT STAGES.THEY REALLY ONLY PLAYED ONE GOOD GAME(BRAZIL).ITALY WENT IN 1ST IN A MUCH TOUGHER GROUP.PUT FRANCE IN THAT GROUP AND SEE WHAT THEY WOULD DO.AFTER ITALY IS WINNING THEY WILL SHUT DOWN THEIR OPPONENTS ON DEFENCE.BY THE WAY, IT WORKS BECAUSE ITALY ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD.
FORZA ITALIA!!!
Posted by: Italia per la vita | July 11, 2006 11:05 PM
CANNAVARO SHOULD BE THE GOLDEN BALL WINNER.HE WAS MORE CONSISTENT THAN ZIDANE AND SHUT HIM DOWN.CANNAVARO IS THE BEST DEFENDER IN THE WORLD.2 GOALS AGAINST ITALY(OWN GOAL & BAD PK DECISION).
FORZA AZZURRI!!!
Posted by: Italia per la vita | July 11, 2006 11:10 PM
JAMES,
YOU ARE A BUTCHER.HENRY RAN INTO A BRICK WALL IN THE FIRST 5 MINUTES(CANNAVARO).I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU SAY TO SOMEONE, YOU DON'T REACT BY HEADBUTTING THEM.IF ITALY PLAYS DEFENSIVE HOW COME THEY WERE NEVER SHUT OUT AND FRANCE WAS THIS TOURNAMENT.
ITALIA-CAMPIONI DEL MONDO
Posted by: Italia per la vita | July 11, 2006 11:18 PM
Zidane should be praised for what he did. He defended his honor above and beyond the significance of the game. I guarantee many people would have done the same had they been insulted. Materazzi is a coward for what he did and now is backtracking trying to hide behind his supposed "uncultured" nature. No one insults someone without knowing what they are saying or there is no point to the insult. If he truly does not know what he said then he is dumber than I thought.
Posted by: N | July 12, 2006 09:17 AM
If we praise Zidane for what he did,then lets praise Totti for spitting on paulsen in euro 2004,they were both provoked and they both retaliated,thus making a mistake.We are not talking about sunday pick up games,these guys are real professionals,they play like one but do they act like one.Ican count other incidents where Zidane was thrown off for head butting and stepping on a player,as for Totti i like him as he captains my favorite team but his methods leave me guessing. Folks lets be realistic,zidane is only human but at that level you need to keep your cool.I hope Zidane will be remembered for his superb skills,as for Italy winning the cup,it was about time after the previous heartbreaks.
Posted by: Tony p | July 12, 2006 09:29 AM
No, Materazzi didn't say that he did not know what he was saying! He said that because he (Materazzi) is uncultured he did NOT give Zidane a racist insult. There is NO way Zidane should be praised!
Posted by: Valerie | July 12, 2006 09:36 AM
I told you boys... Lipi just resigned.
Why would a coach who just won a world Cup would resign... Beacuse the Italian soccer is crippled with cheaters.
Even Italian midfielder Gatusso accepted that the Italian scandal was a push for the world cup games. So the players thought.. lets be butchers this world cup.. If we win, may be we can escape the scandal in Itali.
11 players of the national team sold the games for money in Itali. Juventus is going to the 3rd Italian division. Milan, Lacio, Fiorentina are going to the 2nd division.
Again, Zidane did a stupid thing, but he has more class than all the Italian team altogether..
By the way this is Andi and no James....
Posted by: Andi | July 12, 2006 09:53 AM
ITALY **WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS** END OF STORY
Posted by: Vinnie | July 12, 2006 10:59 AM
2 great video angles and Materazzi. For some reasons I would have done the same thing as Zidane.
youtube.com/watch?v=D2slJ9CBnk0&feature=Views&page=1&t=t&f=b
youtube.com/watch?v=7HblsV-urHg
youtube.com/watch?v=j1i_l0OeeMc
Posted by: Andi | July 12, 2006 11:51 AM
To Italia per la vita. It was not me who made the comments against Italy it was Andi. The paragraph belongs to the person who names are on the bottom not top. I supported the Italians all the way even though I only liked Totti
Posted by: James | July 12, 2006 12:06 PM
this much clear: 2 separate videos
youtube.com/watch?v=7HblsV-urHg
youtube.com/watch?v=j1i_l0OeeMc
Posted by: Andi | July 12, 2006 12:08 PM
the 3rd video:
youtube.com/watch?v=D2slJ9CBnk0&feature=Views&page=1&t=t&f=b
Posted by: Andi | July 12, 2006 12:10 PM
I saw all 3 videos. I may have done the same as Zidane but the only one Materazzi did this not the whole Italian team. Italy played GREAT if not the BEST DEFENSE I have ever seen. Italy deserved this one. You French fans are blind to your Le bleus they did get away with cheating thru out this world cup: pk with portugal, with spain, and with ITALY. Stop crying we we we we u we we STOP YOU crying and me man not babies. come on ITALY IS THE WORLD CHAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Eli | July 12, 2006 12:52 PM
France only got one score in and that was the penalty kick NOTHING AND I MEAN NOTHING ELSE got past Buffon. On the other hand Italy MADE THERE OWN GOAL. They didn't have to cry for it or fake a penalty for it. ITALY SHOWED THEY WERE THE BETTER TEAM. They persevered and constantly kept fighting. Unlike France which pays the Refs to make calls in there favor. Spit on Le bleus
Posted by: Eli | July 12, 2006 12:56 PM
for Andi: man,what a bunch of crap you wrote!the scandal in Italy is primarily due to the directors of the teams(Moggi,Giraudo ETC>> the players played with an extra spark just to prove what they were made out of,they won with their hearts and busted their balls for seven games giving up one own goal and one questionable PK, so why don't you sto whining and admit we are the CHAMPS,
Posted by: Tony p | July 12, 2006 06:23 PM
interesting...Trezeguet - a star at Italian club Juvenuts .. missed a penalty, maybe its because he plays in Italy?
Posted by: Guest | July 12, 2006 07:14 PM
for david: I seriously doubt that a a player representing his country playing a final with the whole world watching would miss on purpose.And as for him playing in Italy don't hold your breath because if Juventus is relegated (as they should)i'm guessing most of the stars will leave. His tears at the end were real as so was Baggio in 1994.ciao.
Posted by: Tony p | July 12, 2006 08:32 PM
For Toni p.
Thanks for mentioning Baggio. he is propably the last superstar the Italians had since Paolo Rossi. for 24 years Italians have played the same boring futboll. Even this time defense saved them.
By the way, Cannavaro is at the centre of the scandal too. He said in the interview that he was asked not to play 100% while playing for Juve....
Posted by: Andi | July 13, 2006 10:02 AM
For Andi: haven't you heard defense is the best offense and this case it brought home a cup. I never said italy plays the prettiest,flashiest or most exciting soccer,but being undefeated in two years,(25 games)and nearly impossible to score on I praise them. at the end winning is everything.
Posted by: Tony p | July 13, 2006 08:35 PM
I am proud to be an Italian. Italy fought hard from the begining, the division of death to down to 10 players & tremendous defence & win yes with abit of luck & then dominate quarter & semi-final games & then in the world cup final go down 1-0 to a bad call by ref. giving France a PK shot, where Mr. Zizou scores only to come back on a spectacular head goal by Italy's Materazzi to tie game 1-1 then Italy having to play what seemed to many boring defensive soccer, no choice thanks to ref's early call on Italy,what did you espect,that call changed the complete course of the game. For Italy to hang-in there & then score on all 5 of their PK shots was absoulutley incredible. Italy in the end of game had 51% to France's 49% of believe it or not ball possession. Now here hear things like, its Materazzi's fault, Poor Zidane deserved more, Italy lucky to win, Why should there be PK shots, not fair way to win, & on & on ! People seem to forget 24 years of heart-ache for Italians, Several PK shot-out loses to Brasil in 94 world cup, Argentina in 90 world cup semi-final 1st tie with seconds left & then losing on PK shot-outs again, Other world cup games playing with 10 players due to bad calls, Remember Totti's spitting incident in world cup Korea tearing him apart, not to mention all the called back goals. Lets not forget France 98, 4 minutes added injury time where did all that time come from, with France winning 1st tying game with seconds & then scoring what then was sun-death goal, Even calling us many things such as cry babies, So why now does everyone have so much to say against Italy & how they won, They are true champions, & if you are an Italian you will know what I mean ! Finally why is it if your not Italian, you cheered for France. That was the case for me & my freinds whether they were Portugise,Spanish, Greek, English,& on & on ! Sincerely Proud to be an Italian !
Posted by: Proud to be an Italian ! John | August 26, 2006 01:46 AM
i think zidane is agood player and he has the right to headbut
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