At the press conference, Lippi revealed that Zinedine Zidane had been approached to come out of retirement to play in the game, but the French midfielder had declined; Zidane's reasons were not made public, but it is believed that he did not want to play on the same team as Materazzi, whom he had infamously headbutted in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final.
At the press conference, Lippi stated that Zinedine Zidane was invited back from retirement for a game but declined; Zidane's reasons were not made public. It is believed that he did not want to play against Materazzi, whom he had headbutted in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final.