U know what beats me to this day? Effin Domenech didnt play Trezeguet all game in the last World Cup Finals AND took out Henry with like 1 minute to play in when he knew the game is going to shootout (at which point he put Trezeguet in). That for me was the deciding factor in the game more than Zidane's headbutt, because Trezeguet went on to miss in the shootout. Why couldnt he play both forwards at the same time?? and why did he take Henry out before the shootout??
When it comes to big matches Thierry Henry has the fortitude of a gummy bear. He started the 06 Final by feigning injury and wasting five minutes of the match. Then he got it going and started to give the Italian defense real trouble. Unfortunately for him, it went to his head and he started to believe he was Diego Maradona. At the 2/3 point Henry made another rush and appeared to have Cannavaro beaten - it never occurred to him that he was being set up. Just as he was about to shoot he gets hit with a shin shattering tackle by Materazzi. To his credit he did manage to get up, but he was useless for the remainder of the match.
It was a very risky tackle, had Materazzi not touched the ball first he would have received a straight red. Although he's loath to admit it, it was that tackle that set Zidane off. He and Materazzi have a long history of violence, to this day there is no brotherly love between them.
All things are forgiven, new Juventus President Andrea Agnielli has asked the Frenchman to return to the fold and Zidane has accepted. In spite of his actions, Zidane is still highly respected in Italy - Henry isn't.
