Fred de Jong: One question mars Cup finale

Why, Zizou? Why?

That was the question that hung over yesterday's World Cup final.

What so incensed a footballing genius like Zinedine Zidane for him to resort to the sort of antics normally reserved for a businesshouse match in England?

What would make a man of his experience resort to such an unthinkable act? A brain explosion that ultimately didn't cost France the match but certainly cost Zidane a fairytale ending to a unique career.

The final itself was synonymous with the tournament as a whole.

Goals and attacking verve early on, only for the customary caution to come into play and stifle the latter stages.

France's early goal set the scene for Italy to continue with their attacking policies that had netted them 11 goals in the six previous matches. When Marco Matterazzi climbed above Patrick Vieira to head home for 1-1 after just 20 minutes it was just reward and it looked like the final could become a classic.

But as normal time came to a close and throughout extra time it was clear the Italians had decided they would take their chances with a penalty shootout.

On the balance France were the better side. They will rue a number of missed chances and the brilliance of Gianluigi Buffon in the Italian goal.

So Italy are champions after a terrific tournament but a World Cup which could have been so much more.

The opening match exploded with six goals and the first-round matches continued in much the same vein. We saw teams prepared to push players forward to win games rather than take a more conservative approach that may have improved their chances of survival.

However, the latter phases of the tournament were less impressive. A lack of goals has suffocated many of the games as players worried more about losing than about winning.

There were some notable exceptions.

The Argentina v Mexico match was the standout with two teams willing to attack throughout. A technically excellent exhibition of football with players from both sides showing incredible skills in tight areas. And to cap it off, a world-class goal scored by Maxi Rodriguez to put Argentina through. Football as everyone wants it to be played.

Without a doubt, my match of the tournament.

Fifa certainly must take some tough decisions. The most pressing is how to stop the cheating that has been such a feature of this tournament. Players diving, pretending to be injured and calling for bookings is the biggest blight on the game.

More referees are not the answer. Nor is the video referee, but something needs to be done quickly before such theatrics turn football into a farce.

This was my first live World Cup experience. The scale, the atmosphere, the skill and athleticism of the world's best is something I will never forget.

For sheer excitement the tension and drama of the Australia v Croatia match was unrivaled.

Best stadium was the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund.

The biggest disappointment was Ronaldinho, from whom I expected so much more.

Best player throughout the tournament was Fabio Cannavarro - the Italian captain who deservedly got to lift the gold trophy.

But after the final I am left with a strangely empty feeling. I saw Zidane at his best in the flesh against Brazil. The world saw him at his worst yesterday. Why, Zizou?

* Fred de Jong is a former All White