Zidane wins Golden Ball award

[underpants]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=373658&cc=5901
BERLIN (AP) -- France captain Zinedine Zidane, sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi late in Sunday's World Cup final loss to Italy, won the Golden Ball award for the tournament's best player.


The results were released Monday morning in Berlin by FIFA.


Zidane polled 2012 points in the vote by journalists covering the tournament, beating Italians Fabio Cannavaro (1977 points) and Andrea Pirlo (715 points) in the ballot.

He wasn't particularly outstanding in France's opening draws with Switzerland and South Korea and missed the last group match against Togo due to suspension. But Zidane produced some vintage performances in the wins over Spain, Brazil and Portugal in the knockout phase.

Voting for the 2006 Golden Ball closed at midnight Sunday. In previous tournaments, the ballot has closed at halftime in the final and the winner announced soon after the match.

[matcom]

1. just saw that on ESPN

one of my coworkers ignorantly said that he "can't ever show his face in France". i explained to her that he will be a hero. just saw video of their return.

he is a hero. i LOVE being right over the Soccer-Ignorant :D

[erpowers]

2. Woooow!

I am very shocked about him getting this award. Considering that he headbutted a guy in the chest and there were other players who played just as well and just as hard as he did I do not think he should have gotten the award.