Photo by epa agency
He left undefeated
As is known, Zinedine ZIDANE is leaving football after the World Cup in Germany. At the beginning of the year, the legendary midfielder suffered from an injury to his adductor muscles. Perhaps this ailment prompted the master to talk about leaving sports, although his contract with Real Madrid is for another season. However, there is another reason that pushed Zizou to decide to hang up his boots and made more than one bookmaker in the world shudder. Since 2004, he has not won a single title. For a man accustomed to being first in everything, this is a serious blow. Although the descendant of Algerian immigrants became world and European champion, won the Champions League, triumphed in the Italian and Spanish championships, was the winner of the Golden Ball, and was recognized as the best player in the world, he never got enough of success, never learned to lose, to yield in duels, and to leave the field with his head down. This was exploited by Italian defender Marco Materazzi, who provoked Zidane into a rough foul in the World Cup final.
Meanwhile, Zizou is by no means a person who suffers from star fever. He rarely gives interviews, but it is not due to arrogance, but natural modesty. He often repeats that he is not the best in the world, but simply wants to achieve that. True, he sometimes allows himself to train on an individual schedule, away from the team. This was often the case during the World Cup, in particular before the quarterfinal against Brazil. And the head coach of the French national team, Raymond Domenech, who has known him for more than ten years, turned a blind eye to such liberties, trusting in the conscientiousness and integrity of his leader. Geniuses in general cannot be measured with a common yardstick.
It should be noted that, unlike Ronaldo or David Beckham, Zidane is not a star of fashionable parties or a find for scandal chronicle correspondents of well-known tabloids. The name Zizou was usually mentioned only in connection with loud football victories. But ironically, in his last match he became famous for a hooligan act. However, if we believe reports in the press that the Italian called Zidane a 'Kabyle terrorist' or insulted one of his close relatives, then we can say that Zinedine responded to Materazzi not as a footballer, but as a warrior. He did not tolerate the insult and left the field undefeated.
Interestingly, many assume Zidane's imminent return to big football. But not as a player, but as a coach. Moreover, success is predicted for him in this field as well. Nevertheless, coaching activity does not seem to be in the star's plans for now. In the near future, he intends to simply spend time with his family in Madrid.
Opponent of fair play
Defender of the Italian national team and Milan's Inter, Marco MATERAZZI, has long enjoyed a reputation as a football hooligan. For people like him, there are no rules of 'fair play.' In the language of hockey specialists, Materazzi performs the functions of an 'enforcer' on the field, that is, a fighter who must, as much as possible, intimidate the opponent and at the same time protect the stars of his team from attacks by thugs. In the interests of the team, he is ready to even provoke the opponent, which, in fact, the whole world observed in the final match of the 2006 World Cup. This style of play, of course, is not liked by many. But 'dirty' football can also bring results.
A couple of years ago, Marco was suspended for two months for hitting the face of a Siena striker during a Serie A match. Interestingly, the Nerazzurri (unofficial name of Inter) won that match 4:0, and Materazzi wasn't even in the squad for the game; the incident occurred in the tunnel. For this offense, the Inter management paid a €5,000 fine. In 2005, in the Champions League quarterfinals, the troublemaker managed to clash with such a calm person as former Milan forward Andriy Shevchenko. Moreover, the Ukrainian, like Zidane later, headbutted him in response to the Italian's provocations. In the same season, the brawler broke the leader of Juventus Turin, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. And in the quarterfinals of the current Champions League, Materazzi intentionally elbowed the player of Spanish Villarreal and the Argentine national team, Juan Pablo Sorin.
In Germany, the Italian again got a suspension – in the match against the Australian national team he received a red card for a 'last resort' foul. And finally, he distinguished himself in the final. Interestingly, before the decisive match of the world championship, Materazzi repeatedly stated that Zidane posed no threat to his team. 'We have someone to look after Zizou,' he emphasized. And he managed to find the genius's weak link.
But, despite his behavior on the field, the Italian is an exemplary family man and art lover. Once, together with his wife Daniela and sons Gianmarco and Davide, he even visited the Moscow Kremlin. He really liked Red Square, and he stood for a long time near the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell. However, even in this situation there was a strange story. During the walk, the father and his older son Materazzi managed to lose souvenirs with Moscow symbols. And upset Marco refused to visit St. Basil's Cathedral...
New broom of German football
When Jürgen KLINSMANN, striker for the German national team, 1990 world champion and 1996 European champion, was appointed head coach of the German team in the summer of 2004, he immediately stated that in two years, at home, he would make his charges the best in the world. Not many believed Klinsmann, to say the least. But the young coach began active measures right after taking up his post. 'A new broom sweeps clean' – that's about him. Klinsmann drastically overhauled the coaching staff of the entire German Football Association, which drew sharp criticism not only from the 'old guard' but also from his former friends. Thus, after Jürgen dismissed goalkeeping coach Sepp Maier, the great German defender Lothar Matthäus, Klinsmann's long-time teammate on the national team, called him a 'cold-blooded killer'.
However, the main reason for criticism of Klinsmann from his detractors was the fact that the coach did not return to his homeland from California, where he had been living for the past few years. Until this spring, Jürgen made rare visits to Germany, mostly doing his work via email and with the help of trusted associates who watched Bundesliga matches. Klinsmann himself did not do this often.
And so the month of football fever was over. The German national team, led by the young coach, showed without any reservations bright and sincere football. Moreover, football uncharacteristic of Germany, without a hint of pragmatism. Literally all experts called the German team the most promising team in the world, and Klinsmann the most promising coach. By the way, during the World Cup, Klinsmann's popularity among the female population of Germany noticeably increased. According to a poll, 36% of women called the coach the new hero of the country. And among his personal fans, it is worth highlighting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Nevertheless, Jürgen did not renew his contract with the national team and resigned, as they say, for family reasons.
Forward Without Toxins
Brazilian Luís Nazário de Lima is better known around the world as RONALDO. At the past World Cup, he was remembered for breaking the tournament's scoring record, scoring his 15th goal and overtaking the great German Gerd Müller. Also because in the early matches he played with obvious excess weight. The latter fact stirred all of Brazil. Even the country's president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, made a public statement on this burning issue. However, the footballer responded quite sharply to the head of state: 'But they say you have a drinking problem. Should I believe that?' He even scolded the king of football himself, Pelé, as if he were a boy. Edson Arantes do Nascimento allowed himself to read Ronaldo a small lecture, the gist of which was that the forward should devote more time to football, and not to countless love affairs that negatively affect the quality of play. Ronaldo sarcastically emphasized that he did not want to turn into an old wreck talking nonsense in his old age. Everyone understood perfectly well whose garden the heavy stone had been thrown into.
Toothy also had his fun in Germany. According to some reports, after the first match against Costa Rica, he decided to relax at a German restaurant. According to paparazzi, the 'cultural relaxation' cost the star approximately $1,000. The next day he could not train and had to plead illness. The Brazilian was even taken to the hospital, but doctors immediately determined that he was completely healthy and only needed to cleanse his stomach of toxins.
After the Brazilian team's defeat in the quarterfinals, Ronaldo will surely be reminded of his sparring with Pelé and the country's president, as well as the notorious excess weight. But it seems the forward himself is not too upset about it. He is now resting somewhere in Spain, and his thoughts are likely again occupied exclusively with the female sex and cuisine. However, immediately after the German campaign ended, the top scorer of world championships stated that he was ready to help the national team at the next World Cup in 2010, which will be held in South Africa. By that time he will be almost 34 years old. And he probably will help, if, of course, he does not turn into a wreck.
New Idol of Marseilles
Few people know that the new idol of French fans, midfielder Franck RIBERY, worked part-time as a road worker at age 19, helping his father. He was born in 1983 in northern France in the town of Boulogne-sur-Mer on April Fools' Day. Everyone who followed the World Cup surely noticed the terrible scar on the midfielder's face. At the age of two, little Ribéry had an accident, flew out the windshield of a car, and almost died. Despite this horrific incident, Franck grew up a carefree and reckless boy. Only at age 21 did he sign his first truly serious contract. Interest in the guy was shown by the famous coach of Metz, Jean Fernandez. However, starting in 2004, Ribéry's career only went uphill. From Metz he moved to Turkish Galatasaray, and from there to the famous French Olympique. It took him less than a year to become the idol of Marseilles and receive the honorary title of 'the second Zidane'.
Interestingly, the great Zizou always had a protective attitude toward Ribéry. Perhaps this sympathy is due to the fact that Franck's wife was born in a small Algerian village. By the way, already in France itself, Ribéry is much more popular than his older teammate on the national team. And in Marseilles, everyone, young and old, is crazy about him. Recently he signed a contract with Olympique until 2010, despite interest from more prominent clubs – French Lyon, English Manchester United, Italian Juventus, and even Spanish Barcelona. The former road worker did not even want to hear about moving to another team, but already during the World Cup, Olympique changed coaches. This drastically changed the plans of the 'second Zidane'. Now he is ready to leave. But will his passionate Marseilles fans let him go?
Enemy of Manchester and Foggy Albion
Young Portuguese midfielder Cristiano RONALDO transferred to Manchester United from Lisbon's Sporting in August 2003. More than $20 million was 'paid' for him. Not a bad price, you must admit, for a footballer who had just turned 18. The 'wonder boy', as Ronaldo was called, immediately became the darling of all Manchester. Apart from having all the necessary football talents – various feints, excellent shot, vision of the field – Cristiano also has a handsome face, so over time he could well have become for United a new David Beckham, on whom a lot of money could be made.
Now, however, Cristiano Ronaldo is personally disliked not only in Manchester but throughout the whole British Isles. The player's behavior during the World Cup quarterfinal between Portugal and England outraged everyone. It must be said that earlier the Mancunians preferred not to notice that their 'wonder boy' was, so to speak, rotten. He likes to simulate injuries, fall dramatically, provoke opponents and referees. In short, do everything that the southern and especially Portuguese school of football is 'famous' for. But during the German championship, England finally saw Ronaldo's true face. When Wayne Rooney fouled Ricardo Carvalho, Ronaldo rushed headlong to the referee to beg for a red card for the offender. And then, when the referee did send off the Englishman, the 'wonder boy' cheerfully winked at his bench – like, what a good job I did. And Ronaldo didn't think at that moment that he had acted so unpleasantly towards his United teammate, and indeed, as everyone was supposedly saying, friend…
They no longer want to see Ronaldo in Manchester. Rooney, they say, has promised to tear the Portuguese to shreds as soon as he sets eyes on him. Cristiano himself, realizing what he has done, is also in no hurry to return to the club. 'In the current circumstances, I must get out of Manchester,' the Portuguese declared. 'Where I will go, I don't know yet. I want to play in Spain – at Real Madrid or Barcelona.' By the way, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is behaving rather oddly. One moment he says he expects the footballer in the training camp, the next he says he doesn't want to see him. In short, Ronaldo remains a Manchester United player for now.
From love to hate one goal
Roberto CARLOS – one of the most famous Brazilian footballers in the world – was always the object of fervent adoration from the fans of the teams he played for. He is a footballer with incredible physical attributes: thigh circumference 58 cm, he runs 100 meters in 11 seconds, vertical jump from a standstill – 67 cm. And his 'calling card' was always his insanely powerful shot, after which the ball flies at 150 km/h. This footballer was a key figure both in the clubs he played for – Palmeiras, Inter, Real Madrid – and in the Brazilian national team. Everywhere, Roberto Carlos was pampered, cherished, and carried in arms. Moreover, he did not forget to share his earnings with the poor – he organized free football schools in his homeland, distributed sports equipment, and so on, and so forth…
And so, seemingly the eternally beloved footballer suddenly became an outcast in his own country. How did that happen? Very simple. When the French were scoring a goal against Brazil in the 2006 World Cup quarterfinal, Roberto Carlos was tying his bootlaces. How such a thought could occur to a footballer who was obliged to participate in the game at a moment dangerous for the team is unclear. But fact is fact: Thierry Henry scored his goal precisely from the zone that Roberto Carlos was responsible for. And the next day, all of Brazil called the defender the culprit of the defeat. The other players, it is true, were also greeted unpleasantly at home: fans greeted the national team players getting off the plane with whistles and jeers. But Carlos became the main 'scapegoat'. Truly, from love to hate is just one step. So far, this has only led to the defender announcing his departure from the national team. Not the most beautiful, to say the least, end to a career.