Zizou said sorry to teammates after his moment of madness

Berlin, July 10 (UNI) ''Sorry my teammates, I let you down''. A repentant Zinedine Zidane apologised to his Les Bleus teammates after his headbutt earned him the marching order in the 111th minute and virtually put paid to the prospect of another French triumph in the World Cup final here yesterday.

One of his teammates, Jean-Alain Boumsong, revealed to Sky Sports News that Zidane apologised to his fellow players for a moment of madness which shamed him and cost his team the title.

When asked whether Zidane had apologised, Boumsong said, ''Yes, yes of course. He is very disappointed to have made that fault.'' France had a slight edge over Italy in the final showdown and Boumsong felt his team had done everything to lift their second World Cup title before things fell apart.

''We had a good run, but unfortunately we have lost the most important game. We have done well and did our best to win the game,'' he said.

It was an inglorious end to a glorious career and the red card meant Zidane could not attend the prize distribution ceremony as well for his assault on Marco Materazzi, ostensibly after some provocation.

Boumsong, the Newcastle defender, also revealed that the entire French team was upset with Zidane asked to walk off and said the talismanic play-maker attempted to appease them by apologising.

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