Zidane smashes door at Leipzig after controversial substitution against South Korea in 2006

Zinedine Zidane recounted years later how on June 18, 2006, after France’s 1-1 draw against South Korea at Leipzig, he had smashed the reinforced door of the visiting dressing room with his studs, leaving two holes and multiple scratches.

The Blues, already held to a goalless draw by Switzerland in their opening match (0-0), had made a strong start thanks to a goal from Thierry Henry in the 9th minute. But Park Ji-Sung, then at Manchester United, equalized in the 81st minute, and the end of the match turned into a nightmare for Zidane: a yellow card in the 85th minute automatically ruled him out of the final group match against Togo, before Raymond Domenech replaced him with Trezeguet in the 90+1st minute. As he walked back to the bench, Zidane pointedly ignored his manager.

Later interviewed in the pages of France Football, the playmaker explained his anger. “I give the ball to Titi Henry who, alone in front of the goalkeeper, misses the chance. But as a result of the action, I get a yellow card that rules me out of the next match against Togo. And five minutes later, the manager takes me off to bring on Trezeguet. That’s when I lost it!” He also contested Domenech’s tactical choice: “Who can score a goal apart from Trezeguet? And who can set him up, if not me? That’s what I’m here for! It’s more than just bad coaching.”

The episode could have ended Zidane’s career prematurely. After two matches, France sat in third place in the group with two points, behind South Korea and Switzerland (four points each). A defeat against Togo would have meant elimination, and therefore the immediate retirement of the captain, who had announced he would hang up his boots after this World Cup.

What followed is history: the Blues beat Togo (2-0) thanks to goals from Vieira (55th) and Henry (61st), then went on to win against Spain (3-1), Brazil (1-0) and Portugal (1-0), driven by a rejuvenated Zidane. The tension with Domenech had dissipated, and France reached the World Cup final.