Twenty years later, the images are still unforgettable. On the eve of France vs Italy in the Nations League, Zinedine Zidane was inevitably asked about his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final. The France coach did not try to avoid the subject: he is not proud of what happened, but insists he has no regrets.
It is difficult to imagine a more symbolic opponent for Zinedine Zidane’s first match at the Stade de France as head coach. This Friday, Les Bleus face Italy, twenty years after the 2006 World Cup final that brought his international playing career to a brutal end. During extra time, Zidane was sent off for his famous headbutt on Materazzi, a moment that became one of the most iconic images in World Cup history.
“I’m Not Proud, but I Have No Regrets”
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Zidane admitted that it is impossible for him to escape the memory. “The images always remind me of it because they are constantly shown everywhere. (…) I’m not proud of what I did, but I have no regrets.” Twenty years later, there has been no reconciliation between the two men either. “I haven’t spoken to Materazzi at all since then. It’s part of a journey. We all do things that aren’t great,” the France coach added.
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Zidane accepts that episode without trying to rewrite history, although he now prefers to focus on more positive memories of Italy. For Zizou, the country is obviously about much more than Materazzi and that night in 2006. It is also where his career reached a new level. “I prefer to think about the positive memories. Juve was very special for me; that’s where I became an important player,” he recalled.
Friday night’s France-Italy clash will therefore inevitably bring back plenty of memories for Zidane. But twenty years after his final appearance for Les Bleus as a player, he will face the Italians again, this time from the France dugout.
