The Republic of Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup were ended in controversial circumstances in Paris on Wednesday night. Leading 1-0 on the night after Robbie Keane’s first half goal, Ireland took their play-off match with France to extra time. Their dreams of reaching South Africa though were ended by a blatant Thierry Henry handball in the lead up to the hosts' winning goal.
Having levelled the aggregate scores at 1-1 to extend the game by 30 minutes, Ireland were robbed by former Arsenal striker Henry. Drawing comparisons to Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' incident for Argentina against England in 1986, Henry kept a free-kick in play with his hand before setting up William Gallas to knock the ball home from yards out.
Furious protestations followed from Ireland ‘keeper Shay Given and his team, but the referee and his assistant refused to change their decision to award the goal. The French will take their place in December’s draw after a 2-1 aggregate win, following Nicolas Anelka's goal at Croke Park in a 1-0 win for France in Dublin.
Ireland stuck with the same starting 11 that lost to the French on Saturday, whilst Raymond Domenech made one enforced change in defence. Injured defender Eric Abidal was replaced by Julien Escude.
The game began in tense fashion, with both teams happy to hold on to possession in the early exchanges rather than throwing men into attack.
It was the visitors who carved out the better opportunities of the first half. Liam Lawrence and Damien Duff both tested out the host’s backline with some testing crosses, with Kevin Doyle going agonisingly close to getting his head on the end of Lawrence’s ball under pressure from Gallas.
But the breakthrough their endeavours deserved came in the 33rd minute to send the sizeable Irish contingent inside the Stade de France wild. Kevin Kilbane sent Duff free down the left and his cutback was perfectly weighted into the path of Keane, who turned the ball home from 12 yards past Lyon ‘keeper Hugo Lloris.
France looked to strike back immediately when Sagna set up Anelka, but Sean St Ledger was equal to block his effort away from goal.
Ireland then had the final chance of the half, with Glenn Whelan’s free-kick blocked in the second minute of injury time by Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.
The pressure was growing on France and – with the home support on their backs – they nearly allowed Ireland a match winning second early into the second period with some woeful defending.
A free-kick from wide left from Liam Lawrence landed at the feet of John O’Shea, but the unmarked defender volleyed high over the bar when he should have squared the ball back across goal.
Damien Duff had another great opportunity to hand Ireland a 2-1 aggregate advantage when he was played clean through on goal, but his right foot shot was straight at an advancing Lloris.
Play swung from end-to-end in the second half, but neither side could score the goal to turn the tie in their favour and extra-time loomed.
