only god will judge me

perhaps, the biggest talk in town would be the world cup finals on monday morning in singapore time. i was sitting comfortably infront of the television in the tv lounge just below my bunk, in the pouring rain, chilling wind, watching the les bleus resist the azzuris onslaught to a wonderful 120 mins of football.
i must pay tribute to both sides for displaying great sportsmanship, moments of brilliance and yet simplicity. it was really intriguing and simply majestic to watch the 2 giants battle it out. france deserved to lose to the italians simply because the italians had their experience and nerves in the penalty shootout that could have gone any way. kudos!
ok, a usual introduction must always flow to the interesting talkpoint - Zidane.
i cannot comment on the 'correct-ness' of his actions, but i have a burning desire to share my view. he knew the burden of his nation lay upon his shoulders and he never shrugged it away. he converted penalties with such finesse even pele would be impressed. he showed the world how football should be played, simplicity and immaculate thinking. but the maestro fell in front of 1.2billion people glued to televisions and broadcasts as nothing more than a ruffian. and he took the hearts of millions with him. at that moment, i was, too, lost for words to describe that unpardonable action. he was rash, but would the zidane everybody knew do such a thing with just a split second of provocation? it would have taken a long period of anger brewing within him, against the face of the italian ruffian who would not think twice before hacking the legs of shevie, or inzaghi. materazzi is no good man in the football world, and deserves the headbutt indefinitely, not for what little he may have done to zidane but to the football community. this is the world cup final which should epitomise the culmination of soccer. zidane knew it, and how right he chose the occasion to get level with the ruffian, acknowledging that he does not have a place in the beautiful world, even if it takes zidane's entire reputation down. think again if you think of blaming zidane for the french loss, apart from blaming his silly actions as a world footballer. he chose the last few minutes of the deadlock to execute his headbutt, something he msut be been thinking in his mind for that 100 odd minutes. the french's loss was purely on penalties, something zidane can only provide as an individual in one try, out of 5.
i believe deep down, zidane is a man of glory, of honour and he should be respected as the giant of our generation of footballers. his only regret is not winning the world cup twice in his playing career, but he will always remember the righteous self that stood before the world, the righteous self that dirty players seeked to exploit. Even if with italian win, it would not go down as graceful as the french's fightback to control the game after a sluggish first half. with that, i reserve praise for the les bleus, and even more for the aging man who had the burden of the entire nation. he delivered, he slogged and he raged in his final playing days. he will always be remembered by us as zinedine zidane.