Zidane is still popular as ever, according to this report. You rock, Zizou!
Headbutt or no headbutt, Zidane reigns in France
Paris, Aug 14: No buts about it, Zinedine Zidane is France’s favourite personality.Despite the head butt on an Italian defender that arguably cost France the World Cup, the former captain of the national soccer side is by far the most popular personality in the country, a new poll showed yesterday.
Zidane was shown a red card 10 minutes before the end of extra time in the July 9 final after felling Italy’s Marco Materazzi. That ensured he missed the penalty shoot-out that decided the match in Italy’s favour.
But a survey by pollster IFOP for the Journal Du Dimanche showed Zidane — hailed as a footballing genius and one of the finest players of his generation — is now the country’s most popular figure for 48 percent of French people.
”The day after July 9, for many, his reputation seemed to have sunk. His head butt had ruined everything. And yet…,” the newspaper said of Zidane in an article accompanying the survey.
”We have to believe that the French have forgiven him, have even knighted him,” it said.
Zidane’s 48 per cent was way ahead of the country’s former favourite Yannick Noah, the ex-tennis champion who has launched a successful new career as a pop star. He came second with 30 per cent.
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