Friday, July 07, 2006

Dear Zizou

By the time you read this, you probably would have written yourself into the annals of sporting immortality. Once again.

All because of a voice that spoke to you early one morning.

Whatever it was, we’re glad you made that decision to come back for one last voyage. We’ve all been truly blest by your second coming. In the years we’ve known you you’ve shown us that you are king at everything fundamental in the game: control and passing. That you are blessed with such sublime skill only underscores your rightful position at the top of football’s pantheon.

Our abiding memory of you will always be of that Sunday in Paris eight years ago, when you rose above a sea of green and gold to score those two magnificent goals. You were always described as a highly intelligent player, and on that day you really used your head. In more ways than one...

We remember learning of your prodigious genius while you were still at Cannes and Bordeaux, in those years when France conspired to stay in international football wilderness for so long. Those were strange days when your compatriotes seemingly preferred cooing over Alain Prost and David Ginola instead. We understand the case for Prost, but Ginola? Perhaps they like some measure of follicle strength in their idols. We never quite understood.

How ironic that your adversaries this Sunday turn out to be your hosts who first propelled you to greatness, and that Signor Lippi, your old mentor at Juventus, will be occupying the space in the opposite dugout. Surely it couldn’t have been that long ago that you both set about your business terrorizing Serie A and Europe with such élan and aplomb.

Still, these Italians are affable wallahs and we expect we’ll be seeing satellite images of either one of you giving the other a consoling cuddle when the curtains finally fall on a remarkable Germany 2006, whichever way the whistle blows.

The last occasion you faced the Italians in the World Cup resulted in a dour stalemate, and penalties, which France eventually won. How telling that it was indeed another penalty that got France into what must probably now be the biggest game of your life. We also imagine they haven’t actually forgotten the Euro 2002 episode two years on, when the carpet of victory was pulled from beneath their designer feet. It all makes for a great climax on Sunday.

And who could forget that magnificent goal at the Champions League final of 2002, perhaps the greatest memory of you in the white of Real Madrid. We all expected to see much more of the same in the weeks that followed in Japan and Korea; alas, that wasn’t to be – the seasons took its toll, and what ensued was so much less an embarrassment for France than it was an unkind blemish on your impeccable résumé.

Come Sunday, even that episode will serve as a mere turning point in your astonishing career.

Witnessing you defy the passage of time in those games against Spain, Brazil and Portugal these past two weeks reminded us once again just how great a player you are.

Seeing you put fire back in your teammates’ bellies, and lightning back in their veins, reminded us once again of how great a leader you are.

Watching you lead your country out for one last time in Berlin this Sunday will remind us once again exactly how great a man you are.

You are already immortal, Zizou... but that glint in your eye tells us that you may yet give us one more memory of your immense greatness.

God speed, and God bless you wherever you go after that.

Le seigneur, moi donnent juste un plus momente

24 comments:

Keropok said...

My apologies folks, for some strange reason, I have lost all the comments, and nearly lost this entire post as well.

Mr D, Mamabola, Mong, Ariel, Shabby Singh & Visithra thanks for your comments / compliments.

Blardy Blogger!

spiller said...

will we see Zidane's face projected on Arc de Triumphe again?

God knows, but i'm sure there will be tears.

Gallivanter said...

What a kickass post! Hats off Keropok. I hope Zidane weaves his magic once again to inspire France to victory. As for the Italians, they deserve OSCARS for

1) Performance by an actor in a leading role
2) Performance by an actor in a supporting role
3) Performance by an actress in a leading role (Totti)
4) Achievement in visual effects

Though I think the Portuguese would give them a run for their money!

Anonymous said...

Aiyo...... why lah our brilliant comments all wiped out.

I'm still none the wiser about who you're rooting for Mr Keropok. Please tell us...........

Anonymous said...

I'll say it again then, Keropok...... that was beautiful!

Keropok said...

!lasallerfags: Man, are you who I think you are? And to answer your question, I think perhaps not... Spain played well, Brazil and Portugal were quite good, apart from theatrics and some reluctance / inability to put away their chances...

!Spiller: I'll admit, I'm an old fashioned romantic at heart. One more moment for Zidane will be eternal in my memory.

I'm all swept up in the tide of euphoria, dude... Italy winning will be such an anti-climax.

!Daniel, Mamabola: Thanks, folks. Sometimes beauty lies in the stark nakedness of a contrite heart...

*stirs, slowly awakens* Just what the hell was in that tea!!!

!Shabby: Your guess is as good as mine, my friend...

Ariel said...

this time i'm def'ly waking up to watch!

and, have a good weekend, you.

Tynna said...

hmmm *tapping fingers on the keyboard*..you are a football enthusiast..you should be recognised! I'm impressed!

Kucing Gatal said...

Very touching letter. Do you show that much emotion in real life, towards women?

Anonymous said...

For Zizou...

Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun.......
.....Shine on you crazy diamond.......

Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky.....
.....Shine on you crazy diamond.......

Come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr,and shine!

K.Shan

Lily G said...

*applause*

I feel the same way about a certain someone who may or may not retire next year.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Keropok!!!!! It's no suprise the others like it. This is a real kick-arse post..... and you said pretty much everything there is to be said about the man.......

Stay safe wherever you are Zizou!!!!

Salut, Keropok..... may you have the final you always wanted!

podgykat said...

Beautiful.Thanks for stopping by my place. May the footie this AM take you to euphoric heights!:) Stay well.

Keropok said...

!Lasallerfags: Good seeing you here, Man! you gonna start blogging too?

After tonight *dish* *bish* still continues. Got EPL, Seria A (scandal or not), Primera Liga, kutuk Liga Malaysia a bit, and Wulkap wrap up to get thru what?

Oh, what will I tell the wife? I said "Just 30 days dear..."

!Ariel: Have a good weekend too. Enjoy the game!

!Kucing Gatal, blackfeline: Didn't know I had so many pus..... er, cats reading this!

Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for the compliments.

KG, you gonna have to ask Mrs Keropok that question... ;)

!K Shan: You the man, bro... Pink Floyd will always be as immortal as Zizou.

Don't you ever dare laugh at my receeding hairline again, you f***er! :)

!Lilyliverbird: Hope that "someone" has a good send-off himself. The least a player like him deserves...

!KM Phang: Thanks bro... let's all root for the right blue tonight.

Keropok said...

!Podgykat: good seeing you here again... have fun, and enjoy today's game!

Lily G said...

OMG! WTF was Zidane thinking. Wot shame :( And I was rooting for France too.

Sangeeta said...

Hee hee!!

Keropok, I feel your pain ... but I'm going to rub it in anyway, because I'm a few thousand miles away safe and sound.

Italia! Italia! Italia!

Vageliser said...

Dunno why I married a woman who supports the racist Italians. Damm them..butr wat was ZZ thinking?

Visithra said...

italy wonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn hehehe so happy

n again france gets the only goal through a penalty! bah!!!

italy italy italy

Firqin said...

Oh zizou....! What were you thinking?!

Anonymous said...

I hope you're keeping well, Keropok. We all cried the moment the light died.

Hope to hear from you soon.

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