Zidane pals turn on Italy's Materazzi

Zinedine Zidane's former acquaintances Didier Deschamps and Aime Jacquet have blamed the midfielder's World Cup final aberration on provocation from Marco Materazzi.

Zidane's act of violence shocked the watching world and followed a prolonged verbal exchange with Azzurri defender Materazzi.
"The Zizou sending-off has been terrible, he flew into a rage, how can we explain that?" Jacquet told Canal+.
"It is very simple. They were at the end of their physical abilities, maybe their psychological abilities too.
"Then there was provocation and maybe words threw him just like that.
"Zizou is very reactive. Unfortunately he could not control himself.
"It is terrible to see him leave that way."
Former France captain Deschamps also insisted that Zidane had been provoked by a team fully aware of his tendency for hotheadedness.
"Zizou had an impulsive reaction. He already did it in his career. The Italians knew it," said Deschamps.
"He has not been handled carefully all match long.
"There were probably uncalled for words from Materazzi and it was the last straw."