Scandal in France - Italy Euro 2008 Qualifier

Remember the ''Zinedine Zidane head-butt'' that ended France's chances of winning the 2006 FIFA World Cup?

Apparently, both France and Italy still remembers it so well that they can't help it but generate some controversy already heading to their Euro 2008 qualifier this Saturday at the San Siro stadium.

For one, France head coach Raymond Domenech is suspended for this Saturday's fixture between the two rival countries. Domenech was suspended for the Euro 2008 qualifier for accusing Italy of fixing an Olympic qualifying match that happened eight years ago.

And just because Italy probably provoked France's Zinedine Zidane to unleash a vicious head-butt to Italy's Marco Materazzi during the World Cup final that virtually let the Italian contingent celebrate with the 2006 FIFA World Cup title, the France head coach decided to tell all of us about something that happened for almost a decade ago.

''The hype surrounding this game doesn't surprise me. The memory of July 9 is still within all of us,'' Italy forward Alessandro Del Piero said, recalling the date last year when Italy beat France on penalties in the 2006 FIFA World Cup final.

France currently leads these Euro 2008 qualifiers with 18 points in Group B. Italy is not far behind with 16 points, followed by Scotland and Ukraine, with 15 and 12 points respectively.

''There's tension and plenty of motivation, starting with the importance of getting three points,'' Del Piero said. ''We're not letting ourselves get distracted, although these accusations, which are pretty much daily, do bother us.''

Unfortunately, we may never see another exciting ''head-butt action'' ever again every single time Italy meets France on the pitch. France's Zinedine Zidane is still retired while Italy's Marco Materazzi is still recovering from a thigh injury.

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2008 Euro Qualifiers France Italy