Raymond Domenech has expressed sadness at the way Zinedine Zidane's glorious career came to an ugly end last night.

Zidane (34) left the World Cup final in tears after he was sent-off for a head-butt on Italy defender Marco Materazzi.

Italy went on to win the trophy on penalties to become world champions for the first time since 1982.

Zidane, who will now retire from football, can have no complaints about the referee's decision.

Domenech said: "It's sad to have a great player leaving the pitch in that way, getting sent-off. He has played a great World Cup. He has been ever-present.

"I would have preferred to have taken him off myself but I did not expect it to end that way. We are all sad that a player like Zinedine has been sent-off."

Zidane appeared to react to something said by Materazzi in the second period of extra-time, with the scores locked a 1-1.

Referee Horacio Elizondo, who sent off Wayne Rooney in the quarter-final, consulted his linesman before reaching for the red card.

After the game, both Domenech and Italy coach Marcelo Lippi explained that Elizondo had taken advice from the fourth official who had seen replays of the incident on television.

Domenech said: "The referee and his assistant saw nothing and then we had the fourth official talking to the referee. I don't know what was said but I think Materazzi is involved. Something must have happened.

"I don't think he [Zidane] would have decided out of the blue to react in a way to get sent off. He didn't just decide he was tired and wanted to get sent off.

"I don't know what Materazzi said. All I know is that the man-of-the-match was not [Andrea] Pirlo but Materazzi. He scored the equaliser and had Zidane sent-off. He really put on a great show when he fell down."

It is not the first time that Zidane's temper has blown on the pitch.

He was sent off in the 1998 World Cup for stamping on a Saudi Arabia player and, as a Juventus player, he was once banned for five Champions League games when he head-butted an opponent.

Zidane had opened the scoring in Berlin's Olympic Stadium with a penalty in the seventh minute before Materazzi equalised with a header, 12 minutes later.

France go home unbeaten and Domenech will meet the French FA to discuss his future.

The France coach said: "The Swiss had to leave without being beaten and they didn't even concede a goal. We made it to the final and we now feel this huge disappointment.

"Perhaps in two or three days, when I have had time to rest, I will forget this disappointment but this is the only feeling I have right now."  PA