MARCO MATERAZZI”I didn’t expect Zidane’s reaction…”

🗣️ MARCO MATERAZZI: “I didn’t expect Zidane’s reaction at that moment. I was lucky that the whole episode caught me by surprise, because if I had expected something like that to happen and had been prepared for it, I’m sure we both would have ended up sent off.

There was a small contact between us in the box. He had scored France’s goal in the first half and our coach (Marcello Lippi) told me to mark him. After that first clash between us, I apologized, but he reacted badly.

The last tackles, altercations, and exchanges of bad words continued until the 110th minute, when things reached a breaking point. After the third clash, I frowned and he replied: ‘I’ll give you my jersey afterwards.’ I answered that I’d rather have his sister than his jersey.”