世界盃決賽後，法國總統希拉克向齊達內獻上了熱切的溢美之詞，本場比賽是齊祖在國家隊的告別演出，然而被紅牌罰下的他卻多多少少讓自己的謝幕演出不如人意，但是這並不影響國家元首對這位老將的認可和崇敬之情，希拉克説“如果我説的沒錯的話，這場比賽是齊達內最後一次身披藍衫為法國而戰了，我不知道當時發生了什麼，以及他為什麼會受到那樣的處罰，但是我要向他表達我對他的敬意，齊達內代表了體育最美麗的價值，優秀的人類素質，他為法國帶來了榮譽”。此外，希拉克還許諾要在自己的官邸愛麗舍宮邀請全體法國隊員共進午餐，並表示在決賽中的失利並沒有什麼丟人，點球的偶然性很大。
鏈結：http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-worldfrancepresident&prov=reuters&type=lgns
原文：World-Chirac hails Zidane despite red card shame
PARIS, July 9 (Reuters) - French President Jacques Chirac paid a vibrant tribute on Sunday to retiring France captain Zinedine Zidane, who ended his career in shame after being sent off in the World Cup final.
Chirac, who is due to host the players for lunch at his official residence on Monday, said he was proud of France, who lost the final on penalties to Italy. "I have a special thought for Zinedine Zidane who, if I'm correct, wore the French jersey for the last time," Chirac, who attended the final in Berlin, said on national television.
"I don't know what happened, why he was punished. But I would like to express all the respect that I have for a man who represents at the same time all the most beautiful values of sport, the greatest human qualities one can imagine, and who has honoured French sport and, simply, France."
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Zidane, in his final match, was sent off in the 111th minute after he butted Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest in an off-the-ball incident not seen by Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo. The French playmaker was expelled after Elizondo consulted his linesman.
Chirac said he would tell the defeated French team at their Elysee Palace lunch that they had nothing to be ashamed of in defeat, and had simply lost out in the lottery of a penalty shootout. "It was really a matter of chance. So it's not for me to console them. I have simply to express my admiration and respect," Chirac said.
"I imagine they will be sad. They have no reason to be sad. They have done something extraordinary, which has gripped the whole of France, which is admirable in all respects.
"They all have reasons to be proud of what they have done and proud of themselves, irrespective of a problem of chance."
作者-北京第二外國語學院-英語系-于歡
責編：盧爽