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World Soccer With No Zidane

Zinedine Zidane is clearly one of the best soccer players of all times, and easily one of the best players that France had ever produced. Zidane led France to their glorious victory during World Cup 1998 when France won the tournament, and took France all the way to win Euro 2000 as well. Zidane has decided before the start of Germany 2006, that this will be his last appearance and that he will step down at the end of World Cup 2006.

Zidane was planning to take another World Cup trophy before steeping down, and it is fair to say that millions of soccer fans wanted him to succeed. Zidane was looked at as a player form a different time - an elder that aims for one last glory, and people loved him. The final match against Italy was supposed to be Zidane`s best moment and all eyes were looking at him. World Cup 2006 will be Zidane`s most memorable match, but for all the wrong reasons.

Zidane was unable to control himself and on the 110 minute, during over time, he lost it and hit Marco Materazzi aggressively knocking the Italian player to the ground. Zidane`s un-sportsmanship behavior was answered by a red card, and Zidane finished his career by being kicked out of the field to the booing of his fans.