French fans praise Zidane despite red card

PARIS, July 10: Disappointed fans paid tribute to retiring France captain Zinedine Zidane and refused to blame him for their team's World Cup final defeat by Italy after he was sent off for head-butting an opponent.

The Avenue des Champs Elysee in Paris, the traditional theatre for displays of national joy, was cast as Heartache Avenue for the night as thousands of sad Les Bleus fans milled around the celebrated thoroughfare in dazed silence.

Four women sat outside one bar in the capital's historic Latin Quarter with tears streaking the red, white and blue national flags painted on their faces as defeat, and the prospect of footballing life after Zidane, sank in.

''It's a very sad exit for Zidane,'' said Vincent Schneider, 24, who has just finished his university studies, after watching the game in Paris's Latin Quarter last night. ''He was the major actor in the World Cup. He was under too much pressure.'' Zidane's dismissal in extra time for an astonishing head butt into the chest of Italy defender Marco Materazzi ensured he missed a tense penalty shootout that Italy won 5-3 and killed hopes of a fairytale ending to a glittering career.

However for his fans, from President Jacques Chirac downwards, the talismanic playmaker known as 'Zizou' remained a footballing icon despite finishing his career in disgrace.

''I don't know what happened, why he was punished,'' said Chirac, who was in Berlin for the final.

''But I would like to express all the respect that I have for a man who represents at the same time all the most beautiful values of sport, the greatest human qualities one can imagine, and who has honoured French sport and, simply, France.''

OUTRAGEOUS PENALTY Widely regarded as a footballing genius by millions of fans around the world, Zidane revealed his flawed character when he butted Materazzi off the ball after they had exchanged words.

The playmaker had given France the lead with an outrageous chipped penalty in the seventh minute before Italy drew level 12 minutes later when Materazzi headed the equaliser.

''What a shame for Zidane. What an awful way to go out,'' said Karim Amri, 29, after watching the game in a Paris bar.

Despite seeing red, fans said Zidane was guaranteed a place in the French pantheon of national heroes.

''He remains the legend in football for me,'' fan Metin Akturk, 31, who works in information technology, said after watching the game in a Paris bar.

''I think he was insulted, and he just can't take insults,'' he said guessing at Zidane's altercation with Materazzi.

Asked if the France captain's dismissal was the turning point in the game, he said: ''No, it was written that way.'' Paris-based French Italians savoured their team's triumph.

''At last, at last. This is massive. We deserved it. I'm off to the Champs Elysee, we're going to celebrate for four years,'' shouted civil servant Enzo Facchini, 37.

France drafted in 12,000 police to ensure order at public showings of the game and only minor, isolated incidents were reported in Paris where police said 100,000 people took to the streets after the match.

Chirac, who is due to host the national team for lunch at his Elysee Palace residence on Monday, said the players and coaching staff should be proud of their achievement.

''I imagine they will be sad. They have no reason to be sad.

They have done something extraordinary, which has gripped the whole of France, which is admirable in all respects,'' he said.

''They all have reasons to be proud of what they have done and proud of themselves, irrespective of a problem of chance.''

REUTERS

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