France through to World Cup – Henry handball sets up decisive goal – Poor performance from France

I agree with this 100%. honestly if the FFF could FIRE domenech, and get someone like Wenger.
He creates the best team chemistry, and he has all the right players to do this.
Tonight was a disgrace for french football, but i cannot say how relieved that we are through to the world cup. it better not be a group stage disaster like in 08 or 02.

sorry ben but it will be like 02 and 08 for equipe de merde

France is getting worse under Domenech, not better. Benzema on the bench? I don’t care if he said that he liked to have sex with trolls cushioned by a French flag, how can you not have one of the best young strikers around on the pitch? And again, the Malouda substitution comes late, late, late.

I don’t have any confidence in Domenech being able to take Les Bleus out of the group stages. In 2006, we got lucky with a magnificent Zidane, and Vieira holding down the midfield so that Zizou could do his thing. This time out, Benzema is crocked, Henry is running on fumes, Ribery is hurt and we couldn’t defend a set piece from a secondary school side.

I’m hopeful, but not optimistic. And yet, we aren’t going to fire a coach who took the side to the World Cup, right?

Sack him. Doms should get the axe. That was a such an important match, and for the team to have a meltdown of that scale should not be tolerated. Yes some of his players let him down badly, but he has to do better. He doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing with his midfield at this point, although maybe I shouldn’t say anything to suggest that the midfield is the only problem.

I’ll feel like an ass for having said that if Doms leads France to a World Cup Victory, but that performance was unacceptable.

YES!! This match confirmed my affirmation. Please sack Dom, I’m so sick of these lackluster performances. Bring Laurent Blanc, get some order. Maybe even a gameplan. I heard various commentators today say, “The French seem to be lacking a gameplan” UGH!!!!

Here’s to hoping France get their just desserts…a group stage like Euro 2008 would do nicely. And Thierry Henry can go to retire and cheat in the MLS.

I never felt so ashamed as a French fan .

What a disgrace of a match! Domenech gets a stay of execution, again. I can’t believe he left Karim on the bench. I’ve never been this disgusted with this team’s performance. It’s a scandal to win the match in that way. We didn’t deserve to win the way we did nor do we have any business in the WC.

And I’m so worried about the future- not the WC, since we probably won’t make it out of the first round, but in terms of our lack of central defenders. Aside from Sakho and maybe Bassong, what other hope do we have?

I was wondering the same thing about central defenders, John. A game like this really makes it clear how little depth we have.

There’s something simple-minded about people’s reaction to cheating when it’s successful – it’s so over-the-top. Can’t they muster some fraction of that outrage for attempted cheating that the referee catches.

The fact that someone gets away with cheating does not make him less moral than someone who attempts to cheat and fails.

The Henry handball was a big talking point, especially because he’s such an icon, especially in Britain, but, and I had to do the long headline to work them all in; the major talking points for me have to be France qualifying, and their implosion tonight.

Lloris did really well, so France and Domenech deserve credit for his performance; but that was such an awful team performance, it would feel wonderful to wake up to the news that Doms is moving on.

It’s really weird why France are so vulnerable in the defensive sector. Ten years ago, that was our strength. But then again, for all the purported depth we have up front, they’ve all been pretty useless. For me, Lloris and Anelka have been the sole bright spots in the last two games.

I guess France have really been missing Ribery and Toulalan. As well as a general sense of tactical organization, of course.

I am so sad that france qualified for the world cup. All the romanians would wanted that ireland qualify. Hope that france will lose all games at the cup.

Well Mr Blatter I hope you are satisfied We now have a cheat entering for the world cup. Disgraceful, the game should be replayed. more for the respect of football than national pride which will take a long time for France to live down.

unacceptable performance, disgraceful qualification, I find no pleasure in knowing my team is going to SA and feel really sad for the Irish nation and fans of good soccer in general.

Even more unacceptable, Fifa.com is now censuring comments related to this game. Articles don’t have the comment option anymore and if you try to restate the truth on a different article, you’ll get a message saying “profanities aren’t accepted, therefore you can’t leave a message”!?!
That’s biased and questionable censorship, the rip off goes on…
SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE

Henry sucks. Poor Irish.

All this lack of depth has come because of bad management.

After Thuram, Makelale & Zidane retired in 2004 there was no need to bring them back. Younger players should have been given a chance. A team should have been allowed to develop. Instead Domenech kept making random selections and brought in those 3 to save his job and France’s qualification.

Apart from Gallas which other CB has more than 20 caps? None of Mexes, Squillaci or Escude got a decent run in the team. How exactly are they to develop at international stage? I still think Mexes should be in that team. If he was given as many chances as L.Diarra he would be amazing right now for France.

If this were with Portugal, there we would go: divers, cheaters, etc … etc …

Since it is with France…

Quick quiz: what is the nationality of Platini? You may cheat and google for it.

We, the English, usually support the Irish in international football matches, which is a bit perverse as they hate our team and always support whoever we are playing against, but I am an advocate of the old maxim that “cream rises” and the other smelly stuff sinks. The World Cup finals would have been a lesser event without France (with or without Dom) and if Theirry makes it what a wonderful achievement to have been at four of them. Please stop all this silly stuff and celebrate.

lets start a campaign today now pass this to everyone you know

DOMENECH SI TU AIMES LA FRANCE DEMISSIONE MAINTENENANT\Domeneh if you love France resign now

what is there to celebrate we are going to be a joke

Henry ought to be banned from all internationals.
And, of course, that team of refs as well.
Wishing France the glory of WC 2002.

It’s not the end of the world. Stop punishing yourselves and look forward to next year, when with a completely fit squad (and decent coach) you may achieve something. Come on now “No Regrets”

Thanks for that, old groover. We’re just in a bit of shock that France could play so badly; and Henry’s act-of-desperation handball was a natural outgrowth of the frustration and anxiety that the performance was causing.

We’ll forget about the match in time, and focus on being excited about the World Cup.

Jeff, you are spot-on. France were shocking, I couldn’t believe what I was watching. They were better at Croke Park. All of us here have been realistic about this team but we certainly didn’t expect that performance last night. After watching the first leg, where they finally woke up and started to impose their dominance at the end of the first half, we all thought surely they’d focus even more for the 2nd leg–a home game where Domenech has lost only once–and do the job like professionals.

Where the hell did that meltdown come from? It’s not just Dom, it’s the players themselves. I agree with your assessment of the ones who did show some quality but since this team has no real leadership they’re not enuf to bring the others into line. In 2006, under the same manager, the team had Zidane and Thuram to take control (with able and experienced deputies Vieira and Makelele to help them) and compensate for an uninspiring manager.

Unfortunately, this team’s leader is Henry. And much as I love him (yes, I still love him despite his new Maradona imitation), he simply is not leadership material. No one at Arsenal thought Wenger was right to give him the captaincy, he was never a leader there either.

Many France supporters wanted Ireland to advance so Dom could be fired. While I sympathized, I couldn’t wish France to be eliminated, I want them in South Africa. But now I feel differently. And not just because of the handball. Even without it, after that awful shocking performance, I’d feel the same way. It would’ve been better if Ireland had scored twice, or at least if France had lost on penalties. This French team simply does not deserve to be in South Africa.

But Ireland themselves could not capitalize on a horrible French performance, no matter how dominant they were (something France themselves have often been guilty of). The game looked to be going to penalties. Ireland had a strong chance of going thru that way but with penalties it’s a crapshoot, anything can happen.

As for Henry, well the game has a new pantomime villain, doesn’t it? Everyone always needs one and since so many people love to hate the French, it’s just a bonus that the new one is a Frenchman. The people of the UK/Ireland in the last few months have been enjoying posing themselves as morally superior to cheating foreigners like Eduardo, Ngog and now Henry. They enjoy this pose quite a lot and always ignore the misdeeds of their own players.

You’d think that Henry is the only player to have cheated who is now going to the wc. I guess every single player from every other team that’s qualified in a 2-3 year campaign has behaved with amazing integrity.

Henry knows South Africa will be his last wc, he was desperate for France to qualify, esp. since he’s the captain of this team. I blame the FFF and Dom for putting him in a situation where the only way to get this team thru is to come up with a handball to do it. It’s a massive shame that this is what he’ll be remembered for. Even the Irish players were quoted saying they understood why he did it, he had to get his team to South Africa.

And let’s be clear: if any other team were going to the wc in these circumstances, they too would be glad of it. I can’t see those 20,000 Irish fans last night being silent and holding their heads down in shame if Ireland were going thru in the same circumstances. They’d be cheering hysterically.

The idea that morality and sports are an automatic combination is a fantasy.

For 2 years I’ve been looking forward to this moment where I could breathe a sigh of relief. Now I just feel like a team I love has lost, and that they simply should not be anywhere near South Africa next summer.

old groover, have to admit, your posts are heartening.

It would be truly hilarious if a miracle happened and this team somehow somehow managed to do well next summer.

I think people are being far too light on Henry here. What he did was appalling. It was just sickening. Given the importance of the occasion as well it was massively out of order, he has unfairly denied the Irish players the opportunity of a lifetime – I don’t care how great a player you are, you don’t deserve to be in the world cup purely based on past glories. He has lost a hell of a lot of respect from so many people for this and should rightly be ashamed.

I hope all French supporters feel embarrassed about the way they’ve gone through. So disappointed that UEFA and FIFA are so retrograde when it comes to technology and officiating. I don’t mean to come on here and provoke, but I think this kind of thing is really upsetting – it’s completely immoral when so much is at stake.

“I hope they never play that poorly again.”

Have any of you been watching us for the past two years? I’ve seen wayyyyy yyyy worse, particularly against Argentina.

“I was wondering the same thing about central defenders, John. A game like this really makes it clear how little depth we have.”

We have depth at all our positions. The answer is that Domenech doesn’t have depth.

“It was such a mixed night, because performance-wise, I think it was a new low for the Domenech era, but at the same time, obviously, it’s the night that France secured passage to the World Cup.”

I see your acquiring Domenech syndrome. Completely overlooking the huge negatives for the positives. The team completely sucked in the match and Domenech admitted it. His excuse though…….we qualified for the World Cup. So in his mind, the team sucking in an important playoff leg against Ireland is irrelevant. He does this every match.

Sam, Keane also handled the ball (twice I think) in that game but the referee caught it. Does that make him immoral? Blame the ref.

Henry = indignity
Henry = shame

Jao: We have depth at all positions? I admit we have bodies to through into the CB positions but what is that worth? Dom throws in Mexes and he looks like shit, he literally stinks-up the stadium. He puts Escude and Squillaci in together- who are teamates at he club level- and that doesn’t work either. Our best defender next to Gallas is probably Boumsong- getting turned inside-out by Jemaa in the Tunisia match aside. And though I’m a fan of J.A.B., he’s just too bipolar at times.

And was the astrologer supposed to leave Mexes or the others in, no matter how bad they were, at such a crucial time in terms of qualifying play like some people advocate, just for the sake of continuity? I don’t believe he could. He had to shuffle and try to find the piece that fit, and quickly. Regardless, I don’t know what will happen. Maybe he’ll stick with the Gallas-Escude axis, and that will magically click, hopefully.

Jeff good write up, I totally agree with your statements. I think that Henry deserves some criticism, but it is done France is moving on. I think the self righteousness is because it comes from those non France fans. I have heard an Argentine deny their 1986 World Cup victory…and no one diminishes the career and success of Maradona. The same will happen with Henry, please don’t tell me this will tarnish his career…that is just asinine.

More of my thoughts -

http://thebeantownfrog.blogspot.com/2009/11/france-v-irelandthe-hand-of-god-frenchy.html

Replay the match: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/news/newsid=27212.html

Or this only applies for Uzbekistan or Bahrain?

Sandrahn – I would have liked to have seen France redeem themselves with a (legitimate) late goal, or some virtuoso penalty kicks. The late desperation handball is one of the very least satisfying ways to advance.

The instant we saw the replay we all knew that large sections of the English press, as well as others, would demonize Henry – it was an iconic moment. Even knowing it’s coming, it’s still impressive to see the moral grandstanding. As I said earlier, these folks might do well to expend some of their energy on the instances of attempted cheating that occur in most matches, and not let themselves be overtaken by cognitive dissonance when a player actually gets away with cheating.

Doume – I know you don’t like the negativity, but what say you to that performance? I’m going to need even more help than usual trying to be optimistic about the side right now. We need a lift, and Doms moving on would be just that. Yes the composition of the side might not change much with a different manager, but our morale would.

If he would step aside right now, I’d say job well done. He’s qualified for all the tournaments, he got to the World Cup final, but now’s the time for a change. That performance was a low point, when France needed to consolidate their fragile confidence.

What is Jacquet doing these days? Maybe Wenger could be a caretaker on a part-time basis through the World Cup. We want to enjoy our football!

I am French, i would like to make this clear, however going to the world cup that way i am against it, now we do not know if I rland would have won on penalties so let’s be fair and say this:HENRY DID CHEAT,THE REFFS DID A HORRIBLE JOB,THE IRISH PLAYED MUCH BETTER,THE IRRISG DESERVE TO GO TO THE WC,TEAM FRANCE BLOWS,DOMENECH IS A PILE OF SHIT,i think will agree with me but if you want to re play the game than let’s replay
CHELSEA-BARCELONA
MARSEILLE-BENIFA 1989 WHEN VATA SCORED WITH HIS HAND
FRANCE-RFA,WHEN SHOEMAKER (CAN’T SPELL HIS NAME) PUT BATISTON IN THE COMMA AND NOTHING HAPPEND
ARGENTINA-ENGLAND,MARADONNA HAND OF GOD, so what do we do??? anyone has a solution??? yea it’s not fair I agree, perhaps ban Henry from the WC that they can do,but if you want a replay than what do you do to the teams who have one tournament for years,do you take their titles away? i don’t know just asking.There is karma,France will do bad, but it will be a great celebration at for me, I WILL NEVER HAS TO SEE FUCKEN DOMENECH AGAIN, sad to be French, thank god I live in the USA I will be supporting them all the way.

As I said earlier, these folks might do well to expend some of their energy on the instances of attempted cheating that occur in most matches, and not let themselves be overtaken by cognitive dissonance when a player actually gets away with cheating.

Because most cheating does not result in a team missing the World Cup, 30million+ in revenue, and the hopes and dreams of an entire country being crushed.

alessio, being a supporter of serial cheaters Italy, your continued pontificating and sanctimonious moralizing about this incident does you NO credit and shows you for the MASSIVE HYPOCRITE that you and your ilk are. It’s really fascinating watching ITALIANS of all people suddenly finding their moral outrage in football — selectively of course.

FYI — Ireland benefitted from a cheating tactic in a Heineken Cup game awhile back, eliminating their opponents unjustly. Just one example of many teams in many sports unfairly eliminating the hopes of an entire sporting nation.

I don’t believe for ONE SECOND that if Robbie Keane had successfully gotten away with his handball and Ireland had advanced to S. Africa, you would all over the blogs today expressing your selective moral outrage.

True, Alessio. But is cheating not so bad when there’s less at stake?

John,

What happens in the middle and upfront has an overwhelming effect on what happens at the back. Fix the attack and the defense will follow.

I’m tired of this SHIT. No more Domenech. I don’t blame Henry, but he should step down as captain, give it to Gallas or Ribery.

Hey Alessio cool down!! Please don’t desert your national team over this. I love French footballers and we see the best of them in the EPL, but I will always support England and Arsenal however badly or controversially they perform. Michael Owen diving against Argentina..shameful, but the penalty kept us in the tournament, Eboue diving against Barcelona.. disgraceful but it got us the free kick that led to an undeserved goal. And don’t get me started on Anders Limpar. These things go around as your USA team found out against Italy. I’ll be watching out for them as well as Australia & New Zealand and hope they have good tournaments. “Soccer” is not the national sport with these nations so expectations are probably not particularly high (as they are in here in Europe). Come on Alessio, think about it. Wouldn’t you be the proudest ex pat in the USA if France actually won the World Cup.

For Alessio read Terry from Naples fl. Miss-read the titles sorry Alessio. Terry get your self together and support France

This is ridiculous! I am Irish and I think that it is absolutely insane that France got through to the WC 2010. Henri is a CHEATER, he is a total disgrace to his country and I hope France fail miserably in the world cup. To those of you how are French, you should be ashamed of your national theme. Ireland played 10 times better than France last night and deserved to qualify. Its obvious that the ref, linesmen, etc. . .had decided which team were going through before the match was played as they completely ignored every wrong move by the french team.
I am proud to be Irish, the Irish boys are a treasure to the country.

This notion Henry should be banned is ridiculous. He should have let the ball go by but who knows what went through his mind? France was playing so poorly he may have been desperate.

What the real debate should be about is, is it not time for video technology for crucial plays.

Of course it is! Think of it, it would spare Henry, Ireland and the ref a lot of grief. Even French fans.

It’s a shame all round.

We have been in the World’s doghouse for some years now; it just seems many nations love to hate us (remember the Iraq war). So any reason is good to boo and hiss the Marseillaise (thank you people of Dublin for not doing so Saturday: I guess you might next time France comes around).

There’s a lot to say about what happened last night. In a way I would have liked a rematch which the Irish are asking for because we would play better than last night. Obviously if there is something positive to say about it, it is: there’s no place to go from here, but up.

Groover, you deserve a medal for soothing the French Spirit in a time of need.

By the way, it’s retarded to have Benzema on the bench. I also don’t get Gourcuff over Malouda. I’m not a French supporter but I am a soccer fan and even to me Domenech seems to be completely out of his league.

Man, if only Ireland capitalized on their chances maybe this is all a moot but.

That being said, yes, I advocate a replay. Because France needs to lose to get rid of Domenech – heh.

It’s a shame, a disgrace, that this france is going to the world cup!!!
Henry should be vanish from the world cup and the team should replay the match.
This is only possible because the UEFA president is the most Mafia guy in the all world of soccer. He complains from other people problems with corruption and power games, and then is the first one to close his eyes to this incredible act of falsifying a result.
Now we have cameras that deliver all the images to decide what to do with this matter, so if this person was to stand for his words, we should re play the match and punish Henry.
Do anyone think he will do it????
Shame on Platini and all the French football for supporting this disgrace to this noble sport!

Doume,

Woe is me. Try being American.

As for soccer, Portuguese fans are vocal too. England fans feel sleighted as do Argentinians. The list is long. But seriously, no one faces more criticism than Italy.

Rightly or wrongly.

In the case of big successful countries like France, Italy, England, USA – that’s all par for the course.

Join the club. Misery loves company.

By the way, I neglected to mention: Perception is a deceptive thing.

replay the last 17 minutes and if need be go into penalty shootout .. Ireland at least deserves that much as they clearly outplayed the French ..

I love france my daughter lives in NICE I was raised in Toulon so offcourse i will support France but I an still display my anger…..I really can’t take domenech i mean I haite him and that’s a strong word the french players should revolt,we are NOT playing under this idiot

The sad part about this entire ordeal is that it has completely overshadowed an amazing two-legged performance by Hugo Lloris. The Irish and English media were quick to question him because of the Marseille match, but he was outstanding.

I agree Jao, I believe Lloris was world class, he really impressed me, we haven’t had good goalkeeping since Barthez! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd2TE3ChRro&feature=channel_page I am being ripped apart in my new video with comments, I need help defending France!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okkA6-oUAGM

OMG YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO DOMENECH IF YOU SPEAK FRENCH, THIS JERK OFF REALLY IS AN IDIOT, WE ARE FUCKED COMPLETELY IF HE DIES OF A HART ATTACK DRINKS ON ME

Lloris is the only French player who enhanced his reputation last night. He almost single-handedly kept the team in the game. Sagna, Gallas, and Anelka maintain the level of play that we know they are capable of. All others: thumbs down!

France badly miss Ribery.

10 reasons to like Raymond Domenech:

http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2009/11/19/10-good-reasons-to-love-raymond-domenech/

At the heart of this farce, disaster, whatever you want to call it, is the FFF, the cretinous Escalettes and his ilk. It is their REFUSAL to appoint a new manager and stay with Domenech that has led to this talented French team to this very low point.

Steven, you obviously failed to see Robbie Keane’s two handballs and HIS attempt at cheating. And if the referee was corrupt, why didn’t he call for a penalty in France’s favor? At that point, France were going to lose the game. That would’ve been the moment to save France, but he did not call the penalty.

Grow up.

Sandrahn, I’m with you. Everyone claims self-righteousness when aggrieved. The English are masters of it! Heh.

WILL DOMENECH BE FIRED?

Terry, thanks for the interview. That is shocking. (I love Lizarazu, but he can’t get a word in edgewise.)

Domenech: “I say tonight that it’s the emotion that counts.” Meaning his, now that Henry’s handball has saved his sorry butt. Not the emotion of the poor Irish.

This man needs to go!!!!

agreed i would have like france to win a litle more rightfully to go to the WC but a win is a win and ireland would not be complaining if they could have finished the 3 1 on 1 they had or the numerous other chances, it is there own fault that they lost not the refs, get over it, titi did not cheat he just got lucky and got away with a call, avery one attemps that, its why some players dive for exemple, but the real problem is how franced played, complete crap and we have to do something about domenech please people sign this france needs to find a new coach if its wants a chance to win the world cup
http://www.petitiononline.com/france10/petition.html
sign this and send it to all, replacing him with zidane might not happen but getting rid of domenech is a must, Gloire aux bleus, victoire aux tricolores, victoire à la coupe du monde!!!

All this crap on banning Henry is hilarious. Any team (national or club level) has most probably benefited from some sort of shameful act committed by a player. Look at the team you support and find that act… be honest… there… you see? Did you celebrate victory? And now? Bann the lot would have banned Henry’s handball from happening? Maradona and Vata for the handballs. Drogba, C.Ronaldo, Grosso, Simeone, Owen for the diving. The list goes on and on and on.
Shit happens. Move on.

I love Ireland and the Irish people. Have had the opportunity to travel there on many occasions and always got the best of treatment. So I naturally felt bad for the way the play-off turned out. An undeserved end to their WC campaign. Best of luck qualifying for the Euro 2012.

Albeit not in the best of fashion the fact is France is packing for South-Africa. Done deal. Look at the past to learn from your mistakes. Just that. Seek to improve and through your next games seek to erase this episode from everyone’s memory. Even if you are Portugal’s nemesis on too many occasions and I can’t stand Domenech, I am looking forward to the prospect of perhaps facing you and see if we are finally up for the task of beating you.

[Comment edit: This part comes after what Jeff translates a couple of comments below this one.]

More from the interview. (Rough translation. I still have issues when people are talking over each other, and Domenech will NOT let Lizarazu speak here.)

Lizarazu: I am happy, but I’m not going to have a party. I’m happy about qualification, but I’m not going to celebrate out of respect for the Irish.

Domenech, somewhat coldly: “I understand, but for all who are happy that France has qualified for the World Cup, I am going to participate in the party. Thank you and good night.” Then he hangs up.

Dumbenech will not be fired. And people need to grow the hell up. Is a shirt tug that prevents a goal any less of a cheat than Henry’s act? Don’t think too hard. It’s more of a cheat when you consider the dictionary definition of the word, by which Henry’s rash act in the heat of the moment is not a “cheat,” again by definition.

The ref should have caught it. He didn’t. Henry fessed up. Banning him? Is the anti-France sentiment really that virulent? The reactions are illogical.

Further, who is to say that Ireland would have won? People are somehow presuming that at the end of extra time, Ireland would have won the penalty kicks phase. But without Trezeguet there to his the crossbar, who knows?

I know that it won’t stop, but it isn’t as if victory was stolen from Ireland. Thankfully, FIFA has already quashed all of the replay talk, though I wouldn’t mind. Abidal would be healthy, then Duff wouldn’t be running around so freely, causing a ruckus.

Qu’on arrête d’en faire un plat”, a commenté jeudi Jean-Pierre Escalettes, interrogé au sujet de la main de Thierry Henry sur le but du nul (1-1) qui a qualifié de l’équipe de France pour le Mondial 2010. Le président de la FFF a par ailleurs confirmé Raymond Domenech dans ses fonctions.

by eurosport

i did sign petition

your right he will not be fired, yes we will go to SA,yes we will get out asses handed to us, yes for the first time i won’t be that upset cause I expect it, at least one good thing i will NEVER have to see his face again ,and yes that worth not winning

Laurie, I’m listening to it as well.

Lizarazu presses him: “What happened tonight? No tonight, what was that?”

Another questioner chimes in, “What the hell happened to Les Bleus tonight? They couldn’t play anything.”

Doms: “It’s the emotion that counts, let’s have a party.”

Obviously Lizarazu’s emotions, like mine, are frayed.

My French isn’t great but I listened to the interview and got about two-thirds of it. Enuf to be astonished at Domenech’s tone deafness. Geezus.

I’m not going to read through all the comments, but the article was fair and objective. Keep up the good work.

Ryan, I think you’ll find that we’re a realistic bunch. There’s no gloating here, I don’t think. We’re shocked that the team played so poorly and heartbroken that the handball is going to be what France and Henry are remembered for. Ireland played a great game; they came out with passion and shocked an unprepared France.

I really wish both sides could have gone through to South Africa. Eventually I will probably be happy France made it. For now, it’s hard to celebrate.

I wish Domenech was gone.

Hi All,
Jez, lots of people going off the wall here, but general comments above are right. Happened many times before where teams are hard done-by, but does beg the question of a television official such as in rugby?

As a long time French NT supporter I too am dismayed about our performance and the way we won. I feel the pain of the Irish as we felt the same in 82 when the stakes were higher. As some of you will recall Patrick Battiston was blatantly assaulted by Schumacher, potentially costing us a place in the final. This will always happen.

Domenich must go for us to have any hope in SA.

BTW Joburg is my home town!

I was thinking, imagine if Giovanni Trapattoni was France’s coach? It would be wonderful.

wow, my video on the france goals got 27k views on its first day!

you say ” I hope France never play that poorly again ” I hope no country plays that crookedly again ” But to realise that I’d have to be on Mars as long as FIFA is running the show.

I watched Setanta, Sky Sports and TF1 all at once and all agreed that France had no game plan. Even with Santini I did not feel as frustrated and angry as I felt on Wednesday. Gourcuff, L.Diarra and Gignac are merely victims of a headless team who happens to win games mostly thanks to talents such as Ribéry. Domenech’s attitude towards Lizarazu proves once more that he has no respect for both the Irish or his own team’s fans. He cannot accept advice nor criticism. After 27 loyal years of being a France supporter I’m hanging my shoes. I feel like a woman who has been forced to go through 9 months of labor (Domenech’s contract) when her only wish is to abort. I could not imagine such a terrible ending to my never-ending love for football.

In all fairness, Laurent Blanc said also:
“Let’s not act so noble. It’s easy for you guys (journalists) to say you have a bad taste in your mouth (with a whiny tone) but admit it: you’re happy we’re in the World Cup”.

Let us also remember that we have been as well victim of a robbery earlier: the Lloris red card and PK awarded to Serbia in Belgrade. We can go back and look at all the other calls that didn’t go our way – they were numerous (most recently PK calls in both Ireland legs).

Besides getting back TiFranck, I hope France builds itself a defense. If it weren’t for bad defensive performances (from Mexes and Escudé and a few other mistakes) this campaign would have been done without having to play the barrages in the first place.

France lack decency;
You cannot teach fair play.
Unfortunately football is becoming a political game.
France won the game by a stupid man’s decision.
France does not deserve to qualify to WC 2010.
France sucks big time.

French football team will be hated in europe and in south africa next year.

Not a good image for the young football players and fans.

I thought “fair play” in sport was to form decent honest humans to treat others with respect in daily life…

Henry should have stopped the match as captain and earned a penalty in compensation for his “fair play” towards Ireland.

The game was soiled and Henry is no longer a role model for football.

To avoid a brewing “war”; both teams should go to Joburg!

McDonalds – a sponser of the World Cup 2010 are concerned to be sponsers of France – in case their fries become known as Cheat Fries – article on http://www.ratsass.tv/cheats

Excellent commentary here:

http://arsenal.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=516781

Excerpt: “The FAI this week begged and pleaded with FIFA to ‘uphold the integrity of the game’ by giving them a replay. Strangely enough, when Ireland beat Georgia at Croke Park earlier in the Qualifying campaign courtesy of some incorrect officiating, I don`t recall them offering Georgia a replay. When Damien Duff dived for a penalty in the 2002 World Cup I`m not sure I recall the same media or FAI uproar. I`m also not sure why the FAI have demanded Thierry Henry apologise for his handball on Wednesday night, yet have somehow not asked Robbie Keane to do likewise- Keane, you will remember was twice penalised for deliberate handball in the match. Is it only intent to cheat when you get away with it?”

If Ireland are so pure and morally superior to France, then why didn’t the FAI offer to replay their game v. Georgia?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf9fx4ipF4Q

Keane deliberately catches the ball with his hand and somehow gets a penalty.

I’m sorry, I can find little consolation in the above, Sandrahn …

… it would have been better had we lost than win like that.

1993 turned out to be a blessing, of sorts … perhaps had gone out on Wednesday, we could have had a fresh start.

But now, I just don’t see an upside …

1. Undeserved progress to the WC through blatant cheating on the part of one of France’s all-time-great players.

2. We look a terrible side of dubious morality that everyone will be hoping gets its comeupance.

3. At least another year of Domenech (and Escalletes) …

4. A lasting stain on the legacy of Thierry Henry.

Sandrahn, good article exposing hypocrisy.
What was that penalty call? Never seen something like that! Wow.

Keep it simple:

Ireland would be going to the World Cup if

the Assistant Referee and Center Referee were in their correct position (Can someone tell me why the center referee was standing closer to the kicker on a free kick in such an important game?? and the AR needs to be much closer to the goal line when Henry handles the ball — look where he is standing when Henry handles the ball !!! — Maybe they need to be in better physical shape

the Irish coaching staff and players should have held up the restart of game until they showed the center referee a video of the handball. A referee can overturn a call easily before the restart of play.

The powers that be could also have showed the infamous handball on the stadium screen like they did with Zidane and the ref subsequently gave him a delayed red card because of the video. (I think the game was played in France so this might be asking the French to be too honest)

In the future, get with the 21st or 20th century and allow officials to view replays of videotape clips. Its not like they score many goals in World Cup matches.

Some good points Mike. It’s ridiculous that they refuse to use video to make correct decisions.

The Irish donkeys were beaten by the French donkeys.
I know which team I’d prefer to see at the WCF and it doesn’t have Robbie Keens in it.

France has lost her honour.

Thank you, Hemry. Thank you so much.

It will stick to your hands as long as you live.

Olympiakos vs Arsenal Live Stream UEFA Champions League
http://live-t20online.blogspot.com/2009/12/watch-olympiakos-vs-arsenal-live-stream.html