With the help of an expert lip reader the Daily Mail was able to decipher what led to the violent outburst.
First defender Marco Materazzi spoke in Italian - a language understood by Zidane who once played for Italian side Juventus - grabbed his opponent and told him 'hold on, wait, that one's not for a ****** like you.'
It is not clear whether the Italian was referring to the ball heading their way or his own groping of Zidane.
The expert, who can lip read foreign languages phonetically and translate with the aid of an Italian interpreter, was unable to see what Zidane said in reply.
But she saw that as the players walked forward Materazzi said: 'We all know you are the son of a terrorist whore.'
Then, just before the headbutt, he was seen saying,: 'So just **** off.'
The translation tallies with the words of Zidane's agent who said the player had told him the Italian made a 'very serious' comment.
Your typical beng!