French football hero Zidane rebuffed as national coach in 2012

France's 1998 World Cup hero Zinedine Zidane was rejected as potential coach for the French national team in 2012 after he personally made a bid for the job, sports media reported on Tuesday. Zidane, of Algerian origin, who scored two goals in France's World Cup final victory over Brazil in 1998, met with the French Football Federation (FFF) chief Noel Le Graet to discuss his chances to manage France after then coach Laurent Blanc resigned in 2012 after a poor showing by France in the "European Tournament," French sports channel "Canal + Sports" said. Zidane, who was criticized for having head-butted an Italian player in an international match in 2006 was rejected for the top manager's job at the French team because of alleged lack of experience. Zidane said he had reacted badly to the Italian player's provocations and insults regarding his family. FFF president Le Graet has said in a book just published that "it was not the moment" for Zidane after he met the former Real Madrid hero at the player's request. "Zinedine Zidane would have liked to lead 'Les Bleus...[i]t was not the moment. He first needed to lead a team," the French Football Federation president said in his book, "World Champions 1998, Secrets and Powers." Source: KUNA