Sports Notes EXTRA - ZIDANE LOSES THE PLOT - ITALY WINS WORLD CUP TITLE - July 2006

James Loving - National Radio Text Service - Monday July 10, 2006

Zinédine Zidane who lost the plot by head butting Italy's Marco Materazzi

In a thrilling match Italy won the 2006 World Cup in Germany in a penalty shootout 5-3 after a 1-1 regulation score. But perhaps what will be remembered the most in football history was that it was a bitter, sweet contest that was the final game of the famed Zinédine Zidane who lost the plot by head butting Italy's Marco Materazzi in the chest in the 110th minute of extra time with the score level at 1-1.

The bitter is that the Zidane, Materazzi duel went on throughout the game from when the Italian fouled a French player in the box resulting in Zidane converting a penalty kick in the seventh minute giving the French a 1-0 advantage.

Materazzi redeemed himself in the 19th minute with a header off a corner kick into the net to level the match 1-1.

Then came the bitter as Zidane the pillar of strength for the French squad, was caught on camera head butting Matterazi at midfield in extra time.

It was an incident that the referee and his two assistants didn't see. The fourth and fifth assistants referred to a video and noted the infraction and Zidane was shown the red card and ejected from the game.

The contest went on for 120 minutes with no score and then to a penalty shootout. Italy made all of their tries but David Trezeguet, on France's second attempt hit the crossbar and that turned out to be all she wrote for the French.

With the penalty score 4-3 Italy's Fabio Grosso clinched the victory by blasting the ball into the back of the net giving the Italians their 4th World Cup title. It was a 24-year wait their last title being 1982.

While Zidane was relegated to the French dressing room with his reputation tarnished votes that were collected at halftime were being counted and he was later named as the winner of the Golden Ball.

Since he announced his retirement that was his last game unless he changes his mind and gives playing another go. The question is will this head-butting incident be what he is remembered for after an illustrious career? Stay tuned…

FIFA'S SEPP BLATTER - MORE YELLOW CARDS?

The games were marred with yellow cards and bad calls by the referees yet FIFA president suggest a three yellow card rule. Doesn't that create more problems? Full story coming.

WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS

2006 Italy

2002 Brazil

1998 France

1994 Brazil

1990 West Germany

1986 Argentina

1982 Italy

1978 Argentina

1974 West Germany

1970 Brazil

1966 England

1962 Brazil

1958 Brazil

1954 West Germany

1950 Uruguay

1938 Italy

1934 Italy

1930 Uruguay

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BRAZIL - QUE PASSA? COMING

WORLD CUP ALL-STAR SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Jens Lehmann (Germany), Ricardo (Portugal).

Defenders: Roberto Ayala (Argentina), John Terry (England), Lilian Thuram (France), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy), Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal).

Midfielders: Ze Roberto (Brazil), Patrick Vieira (France), Zinedine Zidane (France), Michael Ballack (Germany), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Gennaro Gattuso (Italy), Luis Figo (Portugal), Maniche (Portugal).

Forwards: Hernan Crespo (Argentina), Thierry Henry (France), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Francesco Totti and Luca Toni (Italy).

The next FIFA World Ranking will be published on July 12, 2006.

FIFA TOP TEN

Rank/Team/Points

1. Brazil - 827

2. Czech Republic - 772

3. Netherlands - 768

4. Mexico 758 -

5. USA - 756

5. Spain - 756

7. Portugal - 750

8. France - 749

9. Argentina - 746

10. England - 741

(FIFA)

1. JIM MURRAY - 2. Kobe Bryant & NBA Trivia - 3. Zico Leads Japan To World Cup. Who is Zico? - 4. Cambodia's Royal Palace - 5. Teerathep Leads Thailand to SEA Games Title - Singapore' Coach Movia - 6. Thailand Impressive against Premiere Club Sides and Real Madrid - 7. Fox Searchlight Pictures Promotes Zola Mashariki to Vice President of Production - 8. Jerome Bettis of Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers - Kobe Bryant - 9. Cambodia's ANGKOR TEMPLES - 10. Grammy Music Awards Show

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