By 9am this morning Technorati was pointing to 878 posts containing the phrase 'Zidane headbutt'. Make that 879.
As water cooler moments go this was the big one. A global audience of billions guaranteeing there'll be just one topic of conversation this morning. So what does that truly global water cooler - the blogosphere - make of it?
"Did anyone catch the world cup final?" asked Joshy on MySpace, his seemingly redundant question giving the first hint that he may be posting from the US. See if you can spot other tell-tell signs of the authentic 'American sportsfan' (TM) .
"I really don't like france, but one of my all time favourite players is Zidane, from France. This was to be his last world cup, and throughout the tourny, he built up his legend with amazing play. But in overtime, the idiot took his bald head and headbutted some italian dude. It was so vicious! Now I pretty much think Zidane is a douche bag."
No sign of the term 'douche bag' on the blog of welshman, Peter Black, but he is the first to christen Zidane's 'peculiar way of interacting' with an opponent as the 'Marseille Kiss'.
"Why Zizou, why?" asks W Terry in his inevitably titled post, ZZ (not on) Top... "The court of public opinion is not very forgiving, so the only advice I have for you Zizou: PLEAD INSANITY!!"
Continuing the theme, Anglofritz - in a post titled World Cup Mania is Officially Over - writes: "Had there been an element of altruism at play - say Zidane had committed a professional foul to deny Italy a last-minute winner - it would have been an understandable reason for the maestro to sabbotage his own swansong."
Finally, a post titled On Headbutts, Sexy Butts & Superman, Melody aks: "What can one say about the world cup... the Shakira knows to shake her butt? Undoubtedly. That Zidane knows to headbutt?"
Marseilles kiss? Or as the French call it, 'le bisou de Zizou'?
Good for Zidane, I say. Just as the world gets ready to put him on a pedestal, he steps off it.
Posted by: Eric Tate | Monday, 10 July 2006 at 11:02 AM
A pedant writes: "Technically, it was a chestbutt, not a headbutt. The 'head' in headbutt refers to the target of the assault, not the part of the body used to commit it, since any attack with the head is a 'butt' by definition". So there.
Posted by: Colin | Monday, 10 July 2006 at 11:13 AM
I thought the head-butt was the most interesting thing of that match. It livened up extra time thats for sure.
Its a shame though that one of the best players of his generation will be forever remembered for that act, and not the amazing goals he scored and how skillful he was e.g in the Brazil game.
I wonder what Materazzi said to him???
Posted by: Tom | Monday, 10 July 2006 at 11:49 AM
If the newspaper reports are to be believed, fair play to ZZ - he stood up for his ma.
There isn't enough of that sort of thing these days.
Posted by: Urquhart | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 at 06:30 PM