Irish hopes crushed as Thierry Henry hands victory to France

[oldironside]

"Those that doubted football's cruelty ought to have been on hand here in Paris. Much in the manner that Thierry Henry was for France. After Ireland had controlled lengthy spells of regulation time and ought really to have negated the need for the additional 30 minutes, the France captain was at the centre of a furious controversy that left Ireland nursing bitter feelings of regret and recrimination.

Replays showed that Henry had handled the ball twice before he smuggled it across from the byline for William Gallas to head home what proved to be the aggregate winner."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/nov/18/world-cup-france-republic-of-ireland

Speaking as an Englishman, I have great sympathy for the Irish. We too know what it's like to be cheated like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbbsytHDp2o

[Anarcho-Socialist]

1. most sides have tales of woe and poor refereeing decisions

Although I suspect in 1986 most Irish would have been applauding the 'hand of god' against England.

[oldironside]

2. True on both counts but...

1. they were both highly important games with blatantly bad decisions that decided the result.
2. I feel the game is the most important thing and we should therefore rise above petty nationalism in a situation like this unless it involves a defeat for Scotland. Or Argentina. Or Germany. Or France.
3. When the other home nations cheer Anyone But England it says more about their flaws than ours.