Former Italy defender Marco Materazzi has revealed what he said to Zinedine Zidane in the infamous 2006 World Cup final.
It is the tenth anniversary of the 2006 World Cup final on July 9 2016, in which Italy beat France 5-3 on penalties, however the match is remembered for an infamous off-the-ball incident between Materazzi and French talisman Zidane as the striker headbutted the defender and was subsequently sent off, although it remains unclear what Materazzi said to provoke it.
“What I said hasn’t changed my life, what changed my life were the two goals I scored,” the 42-year-old told L’Equipe.
Materazzi scored twice during the tournament, both equalisers against the USA and in the final against France.
Zidane had announced he would retire from international football following the World Cup, however a red card to end his career was not what people expected.
For the past 10 years, it has been debated what Materazzi said to Zidane, and the Italian wants to clarify it was not about the player’s mother.
“I said some stupid things,” he said. “I talked about his sister, not his mother as I have sometimes read.
“My mother died when I was 15 so I could never go so low to insult her.”
Despite the infamous incident, Materazzi claims it should not be discussed as much.
“I have never understood how it achieved such levels of notoriety, the only things I want to remember are my goals,” he said.
