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If you could alter one sports moment to go the other way, what would it be, AND what would be the consequences?
Mine would be Zidane's header in the WC2006 final match. This happened will into extra time in a 1-1 game that went into penalties. Zidane absolutelycrushed the ball from close range, only to see it saved by a truly astounding effort from Buffon. If he scored here, which he should have, France win the cuplegitimately, and we don't see another trophy decided over spot kicks.
Perhaps more importantly, Zidane never headbutts Materazzi, perhaps tarnishing the legacy of arguably the greatest soccer player ever (don't argue with meon this, we can do it elsewhere). This save happened minutes before the headbutt, and in the video you can see how frustrated Zidane was when Buffon saved his"certain-goal" header. Had he scored, no way in heck he lets Materazzi get to him like that. Most important of all, had he scored the WC winning goalinstead of the headbutt, his legacy as one of the 1 or 2 best soccer players of all time would have absolutely been cemented. FOUR goals in WC Final matches,two WC trophies when he absolutely carried his team. Can't argue with that.
Cliffs:
-Buffon makes a miraculous save on a header that Zidane absolutely smashed from close range.
-Instead of winning in extra time, France goes on to lose in spot-kicks, the worst way to lose in sports.
-Save happens minutes before the famous Materazzi headbutt, which would have never happened had Zidane scored.
-With the goal, Zidane would have absolutely claimed his place as one of, if not THE, greatest soccer player of all time.
Mine would be Zidane's header in the WC2006 final match. This happened will into extra time in a 1-1 game that went into penalties. Zidane absolutelycrushed the ball from close range, only to see it saved by a truly astounding effort from Buffon. If he scored here, which he should have, France win the cuplegitimately, and we don't see another trophy decided over spot kicks.
Perhaps more importantly, Zidane never headbutts Materazzi, perhaps tarnishing the legacy of arguably the greatest soccer player ever (don't argue with meon this, we can do it elsewhere). This save happened minutes before the headbutt, and in the video you can see how frustrated Zidane was when Buffon saved his"certain-goal" header. Had he scored, no way in heck he lets Materazzi get to him like that. Most important of all, had he scored the WC winning goalinstead of the headbutt, his legacy as one of the 1 or 2 best soccer players of all time would have absolutely been cemented. FOUR goals in WC Final matches,two WC trophies when he absolutely carried his team. Can't argue with that.
Cliffs:
-Buffon makes a miraculous save on a header that Zidane absolutely smashed from close range.
-Instead of winning in extra time, France goes on to lose in spot-kicks, the worst way to lose in sports.
-Save happens minutes before the famous Materazzi headbutt, which would have never happened had Zidane scored.
-With the goal, Zidane would have absolutely claimed his place as one of, if not THE, greatest soccer player of all time.