France coach Raymond Domenech was upset with the way Zinedine Zidane's career came to an end in the World Cup final defeat to Italy.

The 34-year-old was sent off in extra-time for head-butting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest as France went on to lose the game 5-3 on penalties.

It was Zidane's last game before retirement and 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.

"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."