Have Americans never heard of Zidane?

[botch]

I just keep readin on the threads how after france beat Brasil that Zidane is 'now a legend' "Zidane is now one of the greatest" "zidane is in my 11". This is odd because most football fans knew this years ago. he was a legend years ago already. Many football players have even had him on their 11 for years now. I just find it odd, because football commentators have always put zidane in the caliber of Maradona and Cruyff. But many fans here from the states act like he has become a legend now. Most people already knew he is the greatest playmaker ever. And reasons why they said Riquelme was the successor to Zidane.

[Centennial]

You have to understand that here in the USA, we only hear about the English premier league or the Mexican leagues or South America. France is not looked upon favorably by the media. Especially after the Iraq situation. Added on to this is the fact that 99% of the population could care less about soccer. This world cup is getting fantastic ratings which translates to only 2 or 3 million households. Pathetic compared to other countries. It just a reality.

[MarioKempes]

Most American soccer fans knew about Zizou for a long time.

The same caliber as Maradona and Cruyff? Please. A great player? Yes.

His shining moment was France '98 and his two headers in the final.

Allez les bleus!

[TxFan]

I think that most American soccer fans are familiar with Zizou...

the trouble is that most of us haven't really seen him in action outside of the world cup or the champions league. i've been a big soccer fan for years and known of zizou since his juventus days, but serie a games were not really televised in the US until foxsoccer channel. and unless you get a special cable channel, gol tv, i don't think you can really catch too many la liga games in the usa.

so, even though zizou's exploits are well known, american fans do get excited whenever they get to see one of these players have a great game (as they did against brazil)...

[TxFan]

You have to understand that here in the USA, we only hear about the English premier league or the Mexican leagues or South America. France is not looked upon favorably by the media. Especially after the Iraq situation. Added on to this is the fact that 99% of the population could care less about soccer. This world cup is getting fantastic ratings which translates to only 2 or 3 million households. Pathetic compared to other countries. It just a reality.

i don't think that the depiction of France in the media (in relation to the iraq war) really has anything to do with this. The fact is that Americans just have a hard time getting to see any of the football leagues other than champions league games (which are on espn) or the premiership (on foxsoccer channel)... where i live, we get 1 or 2 serie a games a week, 1 bundesliga game a week and 1 ligue one game... i haven't seen a la liga game in the usa. i usually have to catch those when travelling internationally.

[Ninja Football]

What are you guys talking about?

People have started talking about Zidane as a legend because most people had thought his best days were over. After his absense at the last World Cup, a lack-lustre club performance and sharing a dismal spell with his French teammates in the World Cup Group matches, he only begun to shine when France turned on the juice, i.e. in the last two knockout matches against Spain and Brazil. So everyone is celebrating his form showing he can still run with the best of the younger athletes.

You goddamn nerds....

[Jc18star]

Most American soccer fans knew about Zizou for a long time.

The same caliber as Maradona and Cruyff? Please. A great player? Yes.

His shining moment was France '98 and his two headers in the final.

Allez les bleus!

I think you maybe under rating him a bit there. He should be no question that Zidane past Cruyff in terms of being a better player some time ago. He is the player of his generation no questions asked. As for Maradona lets wait see if he can pull France up by their bootstraps to win this World Cup.

If Zidane does that then I think it will be a valid statment among those who know the game to say Zidane is on the level of Maradona and Pele on the level of what they mean to thier teams, and what they have contributed to the game. If France does make the final back of another Zidane masterclass and he then contributes to them winning in a big way when and if they get there, you are going to have a hard time arguing against his status among the top 3 players of all time.

[Mike in NYC]

Anyone who follows the sport - American or otherwise - knows about Zidane. Unfortunately, we in the US don't get to see him as much as we would like - Champions League or French national team games.

He is one of the greats of all time. Watching him play against Brazil on Sat., he seems like a fine wine - ie better with age.

[vanGobbel redded]

Most American soccer fans knew about Zizou for a long time.

The same caliber as Maradona and Cruyff? Please. A great player? Yes.

His shining moment was France '98 and his two headers in the final.

Allez les bleus!

So in what aspects of the game did those two players outclass Zidane exactly?

[FC Uptown]

We never see Zidane over here outside of WC.
A revelation to watch a guy so skilled and clever dismantle Joga Bonito.

[digme]

We never see Zidane over here outside of WC.
A revelation to watch a guy so skilled and clever dismantle Joga Bonito.
oh now the recognition... nobody gave him and the team a chance! just a bunch of hypocrites!!! fn foudy and a-hole wynaldo`a said in the first game something to the effect, this team looks old... that's not what i saw in that game... the players were tight...and the ref let a lot of physical tackles against zizou pass by, still there were plenty of chances for france to put away... the good thing is now, ribbery seems confident to put away the chances that he has... bravo france

[locoxriver]

So in what aspects of the game did those two players outclass Zidane exactly?
This thread reminded me of Michel Platini's famous phrase:
"Nobody denies that Zidane is a great player, but what Zinedine does with the ball, Maradona did it with an orange." :D

[Centennial]

oh now the recognition... nobody gave him and the team a chance! just a bunch of hypocrites!!! fn foudy and a-hole wynaldo`a said in the first game something to the effect, this team looks old... that's not what i saw in that game... the players were tight...and the ref let a lot of physical tackles against zizou pass by, still there were plenty of chances for france to put away... the good thing is now, ribbery seems confident to put away the chances that he has... bravo france

You have to understand something about foudy and wynalda... they both were picking the US to make the knockout rounds and be some sort of a black horse. they are clueless when it comes to analyzing a game. They are so blinded by their preconcieved ideas it makes them a laughing stock.

Wow that young energetic US team 27.6 average age compared to France 28.5. wow those old French has beens walking around with walking sticks. What a joke.

That is the crap we have to live with in this country every time I try to watch an MLS game. It's bad enough to have to watch the MLS. the most boring brand of soccer in the world. And to have Donnovan viewed as some sort of wunder kind when he refused to hone his skills in a real league in Germany and instead opted to move from San Jose to the LA Galaxy. Wow, that did wonders for him!! congrats!!!

Sorry for the rant but I am just getting so sick and tired of the crap commentators and lousy level of amateur play MLS puts out. I thought that after 10 years of watching almost every game in person in Colorado, and 100s of MLS games on TV that maybe just maybe the level of play would have improved more than just a hair but I was wrong.

[vanGobbel redded]

This thread reminded me of Michel Platini's famous phrase:
"Nobody denies that Zidane is a great player, but what Zinedine does with the ball, Maradona did it with an orange." :D

wow, Maradona must be on your mind a lot :rolleyes:

[locoxriver]

wow, Maradona must be on your mind a lot :rolleyes:
Just because they're comparing Zidane to Maradona in this thread, and I mention a phrase by one of the most famous French players that compares the same thing, means that Maradona is on my mind a lot? :confused:

[PSsoccer123]

I think you maybe under rating him a bit there. He should be no question that Zidane past Cruyff in terms of being a better player some time ago. He is the player of his generation no questions asked. As for Maradona lets wait see if he can pull France up by their bootstraps to win this World Cup.

If Zidane does that then I think it will be a valid statment among those who know the game to say Zidane is on the level of Maradona and Pele on the level of what they mean to thier teams, and what they have contributed to the game. If France does make the final back of another Zidane masterclass and he then contributes to them winning in a big way when and if they get there, you are going to have a hard time arguing against his status among the top 3 players of all time.
Can you really say that Zidane is unarguably better than Ronaldo?

[Tottinho]

Maradonna is nothing compared to zizou.

[ribery57]

Can you really say that Zidane is unarguably better than Ronaldo?

Uh... Cristiano Ronaldo or Ronaldo ? The first one proved nothing, and the second is a striker who can't be compared to a "meneur de jeu"

[United20]

I just keep readin on the threads how after france beat Brasil that Zidane is 'now a legend' "Zidane is now one of the greatest" "zidane is in my 11". This is odd because most football fans knew this years ago. he was a legend years ago already. Many football players have even had him on their 11 for years now. I just find it odd, because football commentators have always put zidane in the caliber of Maradona and Cruyff. But many fans here from the states act like he has become a legend now. Most people already knew he is the greatest playmaker ever. And reasons why they said Riquelme was the successor to Zidane.

You are assuming too much and do not know anything about most soccer fans living in America. We know who Zidane is, get with it. Come visit sometime and go to a bar or restaurant during the WC and everyone knows who he is.

[PSsoccer123]

Uh... Cristiano Ronaldo or Ronaldo ? The first one proved nothing, and the second is a striker who can't be compared to a "meneur de jeu"
The Brazilian Ronaldo. You are incredibly biased if you don't think Ronaldo's career can not be compared to Zidane's.