Millions Tune in As Zz Addresses the Nation

Since Sunday night, the "ZZ question" has dominated public debate in France. Zinédine Zidane was more than just the great hope for football, but a man expected to inspire racial integration, boost the economy and cure the general malaise. He had been nicknamed the "nation's antidepressant".

Last night millions tuned in to watch an interview many considered more important than President Jacques Chirac's annual Bastille day address expected tomorrow.

They were looking for an answer to the mystery that has consumed the country since the World Cup final: what did the Italian Marco Materazzi say in the last minutes of extra time which led to Zidane headbutting him and at the same time shattering France's hopes and his own image?

Today, they are not much closer to knowing.

"I was very seriously provoked," said the 34-year-old French football captain, adding that Materazzi "said very hard words about my mother and my sister. I tried not to listen to him but he kept repeating them".

Zidane's mother is reported to have been ill and taken to hospital in the run-up to the match. The Italian player repeated the insults "two or three times" and the third time Zidane reacted, he said.

Sometimes words were harsher than actions and he would rather have been "punched in the mouth" than subjected to insults like that.

But Zidane did not spell out what the "very serious" insults were.

He conceded his headbutt was an "unforgivable gesture" and apologised to all the children and educators who had been watching. But he said he did not regret the gesture because that would amount to saying the Italian was right.

Materazzi made a statement of his own, saying: "I didn't mention anything about religion, politics or racism. I didn't insult his mother. I lost my mother when I was 15 years old and still get emotional when I talk about it. Naturally, I didn't know that his mother was in hospital but I wish her all the best."

Politicians followed President Chirac's lead this week in pleading for clemency for Zidane. The prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, praised his "qualities as a man and player".

"Because I still love him!" was the title of a gushing blog posting by the former prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

Polls found 61% of French people forgave Zidane. Mr Chirac, who had been suffering his worst approval ratings, suddenly showed a slight rise in popularity, but it was not yet clear whether solidarity with Zidane had boosted him.