World Cup winner Marco Materazzi has criticised those members of the Italian public who turned against him after the infamous incident with Zinedine Zidane.
In extra-time of the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin, France captain Zidane headbutted Materazzi in the chest after words were exchanged between the pair.
Zidane was sent off as a result and Italy went on to win on penalties but Materazzi – who scored Italy's equaliser in normal time – believes the Frenchman was protected in his own country more than the Italian was in his. Zidane had earlier scored a penalty to put France ahead but Materazzi equalised for the Azzurri.
French defender Willy Sagnol admitted this week he didn't speak to Zidane for two years such was his anger about the sending-off. '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.'
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