World Cup 2006 Top 10 Moments

2) Zidane...Not an Immortal but a Real Man
For a lot of people who followed the World Cup in Germany, Zidane's outrageous headbutt on Materazzi would be the image which made the deepest impression. The setting was perfect for Zidane's swansong. A World Cup final, a penalty converted as early as the 6th minute...it could have been a perfect farewell for a real legend for the past decade with Zidane lifting the World Cup trophy. Instead, a headbutt and the inevitable red card would forever remain the exclaimation mark on his career. I was as puzzled as everyone else as the event unfolded right in front of me on my TV set but subsequent reports allowed everyone to have a clearer picture of what went on. Apparently, Materazzi insulted Zidane, his mother, his sister and his wife with terms which even the culprit Materazzi had no guts to repeat in public. Zidane was condemnned in certain quarters for his violent conduct, stressing that in the face of any sort of provocation, there should be no violent retailation on the pitch. While the rule said so and I have no problem with that, I'm taking another stance. Today, media likes to exaggerate events and personalities. Every World Cup seemes to be the "best ever" while every outstanding player seems to be "immortalised". We ask for the sky not only in terms of Zidane's soccer skills but also his moral standards but is it fair? Who won't react when his/her family is being verbally abused? Maybe a monk perhaps but Zidane is no monk (despite his bald head). In all, Zidane's action is inexcusable in the rules of the game or even the laws which govern our society, but it is certainly understandable. Zidane is no immortal, he is no saint and nor should he be placed such lofty expectations that few of us can possibly reach. Zidane is only human, a human with magic with his feet on a football but nevertheless a human and a real man who stood up for his family's name, just like many of us who would probably do, or at least thought of doing the same.