World Cup

Willy Sagnol: 'I did not speak to Zinedine Zidane for two years'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 11 April 2020

Sagnol: 'I did not speak to Zidane for two years'

Former France defender Willy Sagnol admits that he did not speak to Zinedine Zidane for two years after the midfielder's infamous headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final.

Former France defender Willy Sagnol has admitted that he did not speak to Zinedine Zidane for two years after the midfielder's infamous headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final.

Zidane was sent off in extra time after retaliating to provocation by Marco Materazzi, and Italy went on to win 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Sagnol, who played the full 120 minutes of the final, has lifted the lid on the aftermath of Zidane's dismissal and France's defeat.

Speaking to AS, Sagnol explained: "You enter the changing room, you have lost, you have a lad there who talks and apologises. But you don't hear it! You are deep in disappointment, in your world.

"I did not want to accept his apologies, or talk to him. Now was not the moment. I had to go to the bathroom, smoke 250 cigarettes in ten minutes. This is how I escaped.

"We did not speak for almost two years. In 2008, after the European Championship, I had to get married. My wife told me to invite him.

"I called him but he couldn't come to the party at night, but it made me happy to see him arrive for the morning. We had an aperitif together."

Sagnol made 58 appearances for the French national side during his career.