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Materazzi shows his two sides
Marco Materazzi likes to say that there are two Marco Materazzis. Both showed up for the World Cup final.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: February 25, 2007 10:35 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Berlin:
Marco Materazzi likes to say that there are two Marco Materazzis. Both showed up for the World Cup final. The Italy defender showed off his overly physical - and sometimes violent - side when his foul on Florent Malouda resulted in a penalty kick that gave France a 1-0 lead seven minutes into Sunday's game. Twelve minutes later, Materazzi headed in Andrea Pirlo's corner kick to draw Italy even. It was Materazzi's second goal of this World Cup - and second in 32 appearances for Italy, which won its fourth World Cup title with a 5-3 win over France in a penalty shootout after the 1-1 draw. Materazzi also scored on a header in Italy's first-round win over the Czech Republic. In Italy's next game, though, he was expelled with a straight red card for a tackle. It was unclear immediately how much impact Materazzi had in inspiring Zinedine Zidane to headbutt him in the chest during extra time on Sunday, resulting in a red card for the France captain. The two players traded angry words before the incident. Materazzi has also had highs and lows in his club career. He is a standout defender for Inter Milan - and the only member of the club on the national team. In 2004, though, he was banned for two months for punching then-Siena defender Bruno Cirillo in the face. "That was the other Marco Materazzi," the Italian said after his first goal of the tournament. "I'm not a devil. Sure I've made mistakes, but judge me as a man. I can't tell you how many times my kids have been told at school that I'm a monster. "You make mistakes in life," Materazzi added. "But then you have to purify yourself, without seeking revenge. Everyone has their destiny." While his position is central defence, Materazzi is also destined to score occasionally, thanks to his 1.93-meter (6-foot-5) frame. He almost scored two goals on Sunday, but his header off another corner in the 28th minute was blocked by France defender Lilian Thuram. (AP)Topics mentioned in this article
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