I'm not sure what you find so amusing about that.

While certainly not flattering, I'm a sticks and stones kind of guy myself. If you let a guy get in your head by talking trash, you aren't a very mentally tough athlete. Get inside his head.

On a far lesser scale, I had a player who was a master at that. During one game, we were playing this team where the guy who was guarding him kept calling him unflattering names referring to sexual orientation trying to get inside his head.

After a while of this, they were lined up next to each other during a free throw attempt. My player reached over and touched his butt and said in an overly effeminate voice "You're right, I am. You're cute. What are you doing later tonight?"

The other guy was clearly rattled. It was too funny.

Generally I agree scaeagles. However, remember the players had been on the field for 108 minutes at that point. That's a lot of running. I know how worked up I can get during my games -- mine are much shorter and not the World Cup. Adrenaline gets going.

The things this guy was saying clearly go beyond your usual. Did your player "get into the other guy's head" by calling his mother a whore and calling him a terrorist scumbag? I don't think playing up the whole homophobe thing is very kosher either.

If what they report was said is accurate then then the response was understandable, in my opinion. Not appropriate, but understandable. The issue of Algerian terrorism is much more front-page in that region then here so it is is easier to dismiss them as an emotional trifle.

Also there is the insult to someone else involved. I have no problem shrugging off the worst insult you could think of it is directed at me, but insult Lani and I'll have a harder time of it. Similarly, it is easy for you to make light of jokes about you and instruments of anal delight but you'd probably get a lot more aggressive if they were directed at your children.

So, still don't condone what he did, but I can understand it (assuming reports are true).

Thanks for summing that up Alex. That's where I'm coming from as well.

Certainly the object of the insult makes a difference. However, in this circumstance, Zindane knew exactly why the Italian player was saying that stuff. To get in his head. And it could be the very thing that gave Italy the game, because Zidane is the best French penalty kicker.

Fatigue....I will admit that had to play a factor. But for an athlete at his level o do i is very disappointing.

Okay, this I don't buy (ephasis mine)

Riiiiight.

Umm, everything.
:D

Calling someone the son of a terrorist whore is funny? How about if he had called him a n***er? Would that be even more hilarious?

Neither behaved in a sportsmanlike manner and neither is worth anyone here getting in a snit over. Trash talking is always harsh, and they both probably should have been thrown out.