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Having led France to the final, Zinedine Zidane hopes to end his career the way most Hollywood Kung fu movies end (such as, for example, "Big Trouble in Little China") - by defeating his teacher Marcello Lippi. So let's get ready for the fight...
Every fairy tale deserves the same epic ending that Zinedine Zidane's career may be heading towards now. Like in the best Kung fu movies, Zizou is fighting in the final battle, but this time he will have to face his former mentor - cue the dramatic music.
Like every martial arts star, the beginning of the Frenchman's life was difficult. Born in the suburbs of Marseille in an Algerian family, he began his path to becoming a footballer in 1988 when he appeared for "Cannes" and soon moved to "Bordeaux" in "Ligue 1". There he was quickly noticed by the cigar-loving Marcello Lippi, whose impressive career was also just beginning.
Then the two joined forces in Turin and Zidane became the symbol of the all-conquering "Juventus" team. During his career with the Old Lady, this modern hero - instantly recognizable for his unique triangular form of receding hairline - won two Serie A titles, the Italian Super Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup. He reached the peak of his game by winning the World and European Championships and adding the "Golden Ball" to his collection along with two FIFA World Player of the Year titles.
Playing in the team coached by Lippi, Zidane blossomed into a player who will be remembered as one of the greatest footballers of all time. Few players in the history of this sport have had such limitless physical abilities and speed as Zidane, as well as the almost unmatched ability to pass the ball and his technique. This was reflected in his market value jump - "Juve" acquired the midfielder for just $5 million when he was 24. In 2001, when Zizou was approaching 30 years old, Real Madrid, who had already turned him into a "Galactico", received about 14 times more, around $70 million, for him.
Now, as Zidane has finished his appearance in the Spanish league, he has only one game left, and choosing a more impressive place for the end of his career is probably impossible. Announcing his retirement from football after the World Cup, he managed to lead the French national team to the final. It would also be difficult to find a more fitting opponent than the teacher who helped the bald player become the global level object that Zinedine Zidane is, and it seems that Lippi is perfect for the role of the villain in this low-budget movie, as during a press conference before the upcoming match, he spoke cleverly and philosophically.
"The match will be really tough, but it will be really even, as both teams are equal on the field," said the blue strategist. "As the competition continues, France has found its game again and has rediscovered its best Zidane." Like the principle of yin and yang in Ancient China, Lippi enjoyed the role of the former teacher, ready to show his former student that he is still smarter, albeit older.
In the movies that have a lot in common with this story, it often happens that the mentor wins the first match, but later the humble young man returns and triumphs. Since this is their last chance to arm themselves - despite suggestions for Zizou to delay the end of his career - stereotypes seem to lean towards Zinedine-inspired France winning the victory.
However, this is not a Kung fu movie, and we should hope that the only thing flying through the air will be the football - although anything is possible when there is an amateur of virtuoso shots, Marco Materazzi, on the pitch. In addition, as the country's hopes of winning the World Cup weigh on his shoulders, Lippi will not succumb to sentimentality towards his old friend and will rely on the help of perhaps the best defensive midfielder in the tournament, Gennaro Gattuso, to help cope with his former student.
One thing, however, is clear - whoever becomes the World Champion in Berlin should expect sincere respect and congratulations from the defeated opponent, and the battle will certainly be devilishly interesting and intense.
