One silly mistake but his still an absolute legend in my eyes.

True, and many of us may have reacted the same way. However, professional players, especially one as highly regarded as Zinedine Zidane are held to higher standards. It's so sad to see him get the red, lose, and not even be able to wave goodbye or receive a medal on the field after the game.

Zidane looked like he was in a strange headspace the whole game, maybe because it was his last. he seemed laid back, arrogant. Look at his cheeky penalty kick! it's like he was detached.

But it's such a shame to think that he almost scored that spectacular header to win the game. A few minutes later he goes out as a disgrace instead. Talk about a fateful few minutes in his life!

Anyway, I believe that something really bad was said to him. Doesn't excuse him losing his cool, but it must have been something really bad. he deserved more respect from the Italian player. it was his last game and the world cup final and he is one of the game's greatest. I just wish Zidane hadn't got sucked in by trash talk.

Tired,totally exhausted,limbs falling off,having your family abused....whatever...i would never ever react in that way..Materazzi twisted Zidane round his finger and used him like a puppet,Zidane should have known better

And moreover Zidane played during some years in Juventus then he should know that italian players say these things. He reacted like if he was insulted for the first time in his life.

I will never forget this piece of video

http://www.mr-x.dk/?lp_lang_pref=en

(Zidane vs. Materazzi)

I think something more must have done down. Zidane has always had a temper but there were two other things going on on the field from what my coverage showed. I wonder if one of them contributed, or if Materazi had done something to Z earlier too? I just cannot imagine a player as controlled as he is, in that game, right after Henry was sub'd off losing his cool over a one-off wording.

Well, at the time I thought it was quite funny really.

But a bad stage to do it on, we will remember him more for it, I'm sure.

What the hell was he thinking?!
The whole of France are feeling gutted and let down by him right now

He's let himself down
I am blimmin speechless - and you all know i NEVER am

Yeah, you're right. Now that I've cooled off some, I'm thinking straight now and realize that Zidane should have known better. Those Italian defenders are known to play dirty like that. But doing that to Zidane on his last World Cup game was disrespectful I think Materazzi kind of knew that Zidane was vulnerable at that time.

What was Rhinozine zidane thinking? Ive seen him do that for Juventus before but he should have had more composure on an occasion like this.

I didnt think he was going to get sent off at first, Im wondering if the linesman seen the head-butt on the big screen?

when that dutch player said nasty things and pushed figo and he made the headbutt, figo was the one at fautl. when Rooney kicked the other int the groin, it was ronaldo's fault, and now, the fault that zidane lost his mind was because the other guy insulted him. players sould get a grip, and fans too

The only guilty on the headbutt is Zidane. Someone said he is a human being, that's true, and, as a human being, he has the ability to breath deeply, count to 10 and control himself. He knows better than this.