The image is now part of the (sad) legend of world football. While the French team was facing Italy in the final of the 2006 World Cup, Zinedine Zidane pulled the pin after Marco Materazzi’s words and fired a header which sent the transalpine defender to the ground. But another player from the Nazionale believes he is also guilty of “Zizou’s” reaction. Gianluigi Buffon accused himself.
He had already written it in his autobiography entitled “Saved”, and published last week. But the former goalkeeper who played for Parma, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain in particular, repeated it this Wednesday in an interview with the Guardian. According to him, if Zinedine Zidane broke down, it was firstly due to a purely footballing event that occurred a few moments earlier during the match. “I remember it like it was yesterday. » And to evoke this moment when “Zizou” fired a missile-shaped header after receiving a cross from Willy Sagnol.
Gianluigi Buffon then demonstrated all his talent to deflect the ball and avoid the 2-1 in favor of the Blues.
“When Zidane hit the ball, his header was of such force, of such brutality. It was as if he had touched him with his foot rather than his head, the gesture was so quick. I knew he was convinced he had scored. So he was frustrated that I stopped him, but, as an outstanding champion, I think he ended up appreciating my intervention. »
“It’s my fault”, says Gianluigi Buffon on Zinedine Zidane
In the meantime, Zinedine Zidane would have ruminated on his disappointment at having missed a double after his Panenka winner in the 7th minute of play. Gianluigi Buffon remains convinced of this. Then he described the headbutt scene. “I was about fifteen meters away and I heard the thud. If he had done this to anyone else, he would have been knocked out. The assistant referee didn’t see it. I was the only witness. So I ran towards the referee and his assistant to get their attention. Materazzi was on the ground, Zidane was motionless, I protested, and finally the game was stopped. »
Italy ultimately won the final and the 2006 World Cup on penalties. Gianluigi Buffon concluded: “ I was overwhelmed and torn between several emotions. I knew it was Zidane’s last match, and he was one of the greatest and most elegant players in the history of football. I was sad that his career ended like this. (…) We never talked about it. (…) He is a champion who has won everything, but I think that deep down, this situation has always been painful and that is why I did not want him to remember it. (…) It’s my fault. »
