A 16-foot bronze statue portraying the French star Zinedine Zidane’s head-butting of Marco Materazzi of Italy at the 2006 World Cup was unveiled in front of Paris’s Centre Pompidou modern art museum.

Zinédine Zidane has backed the French national coach, Laurent Blanc, over allegations that he discussed a quota system to limit the number of young black and Arab players in training centers.

Marco Materazzi tells the Italian television network Mediaset that he and Zinedine Zidane did indeed meet, shook hands and exchanged a few words last month in Milan.

Italy, France and England, all perennial contenders who disappointed in the World Cup, still struggle to return to full form.

Before Friday, the power in this tournament belonged to South American favorites. But they found out how quickly it can all go wrong.

The French and the English are attempting to deal with underachievement at the World Cup in typically different ways.

Zinédine Zidane of France and Lucas Radebe of South African were to discuss a match between France and South Africa. But that was before the volcano involving the French team erupted.

JOHANNESBURG -- Zinedine Zidane lashed out at France Coach Raymond Domenech and chastised his countrymen for their lackluster play. ''He is not a coach,'' Zidane, the former France captain, said. ''There is no teamwork.''

FIFA is set to decide the venues for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. If the United States wants to win a bid, it should do what France did and send its president to plea.