France Cheats Ireland Out Of A World Cup Berth!

[The_Dude 1,142]

France celebrates reaching World Cup, but little to reassure Raymond Domenech about his team

By Jerome Pugmire (CP) – 1 hour ago

PARIS — A deflected goal in Ireland and a handball in France were enough to help the French reach the World Cup, but Raymond Domenech's team looks far from convincing and the coach even admitted it was "miraculous" to squeeze through.

France will be in South Africa next year in its fourth consecutive World Cup, but many questions remain whether Domenech's team has what it takes there after being outplayed by Ireland in Wednesday's 1-1 draw.

"It was difficult, arduous and sometimes miraculous," Domenech said. "It was a victory by the skin of our teeth."

Make that the palm of Thierry Henry's hand.

France needed an extra time goal from Arsenal defender William Gallas, but in the build up to the goal veteran striker Henry clearly handled the ball - twice - before toe-poking it up to Gallas to head in from one yard out.

Gallas' goal made it 1-1 on the night and sent France through 2-1 on aggregate after Nicolas Anelka scored in the second half at Croke Park on Saturday with a shot that deflected past goalkeeper Shay Given to give France a 1-0 win.

The Irish players were furious - and with reason.

Henry, a close friend of San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, patted the ball down like a basketball player before remembering to use his feet. Henry and his former Arsenal teammate Gallas were also offside on the initial free kick.

"Allow me a little moment of happiness," Domenech said, claiming he didn't see that incident - even though he was outraged Anelka was not awarded a penalty earlier in extra time.

"For two years now, we've been fighting, struggling, hanging on, we've been criticized from all sides," Domenech said.

Former France midfielder Emmanuel Petit was outspoken in his criticism, while former playmaker Zinedine Zidane and goalkeeper Fabien Barthez watched nervously at Stade de France.

"There is nothing glorious about this," Petit told L'Equipe's Web site. "Most of the players failed to perform."

Petit, who scored the third goal when France beat Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 World Cup final, thought Ireland "dominated in every department."

Henry admitted the handball but laid the blame on Swedish referee Martin Hansson for not blowing the whistle.

"I played it. The ref allowed it. That's a question you should ask him," Henry said.

Henry, praised for his sense of fair play during his time at Arsenal, was unrepentant.

"No, no, we're qualified," Henry said when asked if he regretted his handball.

France was the last European team in Wednesday's playoffs to get through, joining Portugal, Greece and Slovenia. Ireland's valour was not enough to avert a second straight failure to qualify after 2006.

With the soccer world's eyes focused on Stade de France as extra time ticked on toward a penalty shoot out, Henry's handball overshadowed the win. It will likely renew calls for the use of video technology in soccer.

"I don't think it's about him doing it, it's more about that we need replays. The technology's there," Ireland defender Sean St. Ledger said. "The boys saw it straight away. I honestly don't think the referee was sure. First of all he (Henry) was offside. Referees and linesmen have jobs to do, and it's cost us."

For Domenech, huge doubts remain as to whether he has any real grip on the team.

Under Domenech, France reached the 2006 World Cup final, losing to Italy on penalties. But that team featured an imperious Zidane and an iron defence led by Lilian Thuram. Both are now retired.

France went out of last year's European Championship in the group stages without winning a game and Domenech has endured a bitter relationship with the French press, and even some of his players, since Euro 2008.

Florent Malouda previously overtly criticized Domenech, and Henry twice publicly denied reports of heated arguments - the first before France's game against Romania in September, the second in the team hotel in Dublin on Friday night.

Henry was upset that Domenech did not pick veteran midfielder Patrick Vieira against Ireland, and reportedly questioned Domenech's training methods before the Romania game.

Vieira's absence is not the only puzzling choice.

With France struggling to create chances as Ireland dominated, striker Andre-Pierre Gignac kept losing the ball, could not control the most basic pass, and looked petrified.

Sitting on the French bench was Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema, one of Europe's most highly-rated young strikers. Yet even with France struggling, Domenech overlooked him, just as he has previously with David Trezeguet and Robert Pires.

Likely to be fired if France failed, Domenech glibly tossed aside testing questions after saving his job.

"I want to make the most of it," he said.

Source

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I've always hated Henry, knew he was a cheating ####### since he played for Arsenal!!

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

I was cheering for Ireland

f'k les bleus

Edited November 19, 2009 by TävôLuDô

[The_Dude 1,142]

I was cheering for Ireland

f'k les bleus

They are very overrated and will get crushed eventually. I just hope it is either the Germans or Dutch who do it.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

yeap, even when i used to live in France I hated them

It was like music to me when Senegal (former colony of France) beat them in the WC 2002

[The_Dude 1,142]

Man, I cannot wait for the next world cup. I will break out my Raul kit!!!!

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

:dance:

That's what I tell the wife,

She won't have a husband for a month every 4 yrs. I give a rat's a$$ about American football, basketball, volleyball, golf or even real football from Mexico, Europe or Spain but comes the WC and

hey she is lucky at least she doesn't have one of those that spend all the damn w/e glued to the TV watching every damn sport there is, including Sport Center. I still don't get the point of watching again what they already watched during the day

Edited November 19, 2009 by TävôLuDô

[The_Dude 1,142]

:dance:

That's what I tell the wife,

She won't have a husband for a month every 4 yrs. I give a rat's a$$ about American football, basketball, volleyball, golf or even real football from Mexico, Europe or Spain but comes the WC and

hey she is lucky at least she doesn't have one of those that spend all the damn w/e glued to the TV watching every damn sport there is, including Sport Center to watch again what they already saw during the day

I love all football, period. I can watch it any time anywhere. We are lucky at work here to have football nuts who are supervisors. Last WC, we had 2 t .v.'s on non-stop for the whole tournament.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

damn it

I don't know what's going to happen, they are 9 hrs ahead in S. Africa

I think I going to have to quit

Edited November 19, 2009 by TävôLuDô

[The_Dude 1,142]

damn it

I don't know what's going to happen, they are 9 hrs ahead in S. Africa

I think I going to have to quit

LoL, well for me, I will either take time off to watch the mathes after the group play, or i'll have to adjust my sleep pattern to accomodate the late hours.

[HAL 9000 96]

So much for Thierry's clean cut image... at least he admitted what he did... although a bit late to matter. I hope they replay the match.

[The_Dude 1,142]

So much for Thierry's clean cut image... at least he admitted what he did... although a bit late to matter. I hope they replay the match.

He cheated in both matches, I highly doubt they will replay them, it would be unprecedented.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

why what happened?

I didn't watch it, I was @ work. I just followed it through fifa's stupid chat

stupid work

Edited November 19, 2009 by TävôLuDô

[HAL 9000 96]

So much for Thierry's clean cut image... at least he admitted what he did... although a bit late to matter. I hope they replay the match.

He cheated in both matches, I highly doubt they will replay them, it would be unprecedented.

I heard there actually is a precedent where a match was replayed after FIFA intervened. Can't remember it right now... but it might have been one where Bahrain played. I really hope they do too. Just like I hoped FIFA would have done something about that horrible officiating in the Spain-Korea match during the Japan-Korea WC. That one REALLY ticked me off.

And I hope he gets dropped by Gillette!!!

why what happened?

I didn't watch it, I was @ work. I just followed it through fifa's stupid chat

stupid work

The most obvious violation of the rules... an intentional handball. And he even admitted it. Crazy.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

ohhh another mano de dios?

shocking and then Thierry he is a damn of a good player

[The_Dude 1,142]

At least he didn't pull a Maradona and only admit it 20 years later