France boss praises Materazzi for getting Zidane sent off

FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech believes Marco Materazzi should have been man-of-the-match in last year’s World Cup final and even player of the tournament, praising the Italy defender for his role in the sending-off of France playmaker Zinedine Zidane.

Asked to criticise Materazzi by Le Parisien newspaper, Domenech said: “Wait a minute, I could have been Materazzi.

“In a World Cup final you score a goal, you get the opposing best player sent off and then you score your penalty (in the shootout). Say what you want about (Andrea) Pirlo but Materazzi was the man of the match.”