France V Ireland - Wednesday, 18th November 2009 - World Cup 2010 Playoff Second Leg

**irishbaz** · 18/11/2009, 10:37 PM

My children seen me cry like a baby for the first time ever Firstly out of disgust for Henrys lack of class (while it means nothing to the man to have a nation despise him for his lack of integrity) but secondly out of pure pride we were class tonight lads and no matter what I’m so proud to be Irish!! My kids are all born in England and my eldest daughter said dad now you can support England!! I have put her in an orphanage!!

**ball-hop** · 18/11/2009, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by livehead1

Eduardo was banned for 3 games for trying to gain an unfair advantage. What price a similar decision, highly unlikely I feel.

Eduardo.... Croatia
Henry ... Platini, Blatter (Swiss, I know but...), UEFA, FIFA, Barcelona and France - a ban - Flying Pigs anyone?

Enke comment totally uncalled for, bang out of order.

**Thunderblaster** · 18/11/2009, 10:37 PM

FIFA has their own forum. Sign up and really voice your views on the game!!

**Acornvilla** · 18/11/2009, 10:38 PM

i don't know what to say

we did'nt deserve to g out like that? why has my entire life supporting ireland been like this!! all you older people are so lucky because you have memories i may never get the same chance to have

**Jon'o** · 18/11/2009, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by osarusan

And if an Irish player had handballed in exactly the same way, or dived and earned a penalty, would we be condemning them at the moment? No, we'd accept it was wrong, and that the player deserved criticism, but the player would have just gotten us to the World Cup, so we really wouldn't be all that bothered. And if England had been eliminated in the way we just were, we'd be over the moon.

Someone on Sky sports phone in just made the exact same point, and you and he are right just hurts right now. In the cold light of day it was a great performance but past results, not seeding the draw and making more of chances would have made this whole thing a non issue.

Sulk, moan, get drunk but we're getting a new stadium next year and its a new start, we'll bounce back and back our lads 110% as we always do.

**rambler14** · 18/11/2009, 10:38 PM

It's nice to see all the English fans ringing into Your on Sky Sports saying that Ireland were cheated out of the World Cup!

**MysticMon** · 18/11/2009, 10:39 PM

**Acornvilla** · 18/11/2009, 10:40 PM

i think i want souness as manager! when trap retires that is. he always makes sencd and has quite a goot record as a manager

**TonyD** · 18/11/2009, 10:41 PM

Just a quick question. How many times did Robbie Keane handle the ball tonight ? If he'd gotten away with one of those and it led to a goal would there be any moralising and talk of cheating going on here ? Don't think so. Are we really going to go all "Hand of God" on this and still be talking about it in 20 odd years time ?

**carloz** · 18/11/2009, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by Acornvilla

i think i want souness as manager! when trap retires that is. he always makes sencd and has quite a goot record as a manager

Saying we should go rooting through every level of football in england to find any player with a drop of irish blood.Call up Kevin bloody Nolan!!!!! I think id leave him in the studio with the others to have their Andy Reid wankfest

**Park_Lane** · 18/11/2009, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by TonyD

Just a quick question. How many times did Robbie Keane handle the ball tonight ? If he'd gotten away with one of those and it led to a goal would there be any moralising and talk of cheating going on here ?

This didnt happen so it irrelevant.

**Iano** · 18/11/2009, 10:43 PM

everyone should e-mail Henry's sponsors and threaten not to buy their products because of what he represents, Gillette and Reebok for starters

**Murfinator** · 18/11/2009, 10:43 PM

Henry had his back to the ref, it was all the linesman fault.

**zackmorris** · 18/11/2009, 10:45 PM

Surprisingly no mention of the handball in the fifa match summary on their site. I think football 365 best summed it up on their site.

**Park_Lane** · 18/11/2009, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by Acornvilla

i think i want souness as manager! when trap retires that is. he always makes sencd and has quite a goot record as a manager

no thanks, its bad enough having to put up with his "punditry"

**Park_Lane** · 18/11/2009, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by zackmorris

Surprisingly no mention of the handball in the fifa match summary on their site. I think football 365 best summed it up on their site.

Of course they dont. Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have the biggest hard ons now they dont want little 'ol Ireland raining on their parade.

**old git** · 18/11/2009, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by yapster

Typical Keane does something good then turns around and does something stupid. His stupid decision to take it around the keeper when he had the time to shoot or lift it over the keeper was the real reason Ireland are out of the WC Finals. It gave the french renewed confidence and they controlled the game ater that and the Irish team were gutted after it even though they still played out of their skins. Robbie Keane is NOT a top striker as Liverpool found out last year,he may score the odd goal or two but he will miss the most important ones due to his stupid decisions and attempts at glory. When he was most needed tonight he failed. I know he works hard but his inital job is to put them away especially at crucial times of the match. Kudos for his goal but when it mattered most he bottled it.

i'm not keanes biggest fan either and don't think he is a world class finisher .. but would no way blame him for ireland not winning tonight and going to world cup .. doyle missed a great headed chance / duff missed when through on goals all equally good chances as keanes .. and don't forget his goals along the way got us so close to getting to a world cup final

**Hibs4Ever** · 18/11/2009, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by Jon'o

Someone on Sky sports phone in just made the exact same point, and you and he are right

If Keane had done that I'd be emabarrassed and expected him to get a ban

**gally** · 18/11/2009, 10:48 PM

Givens.......8
O'Shea......9
Dunne.......9
St Ledger ..9.5
Kilbane......9
Lawrence...9
Whelan......8
Andrews....8
Duff..........9
Keane.......9
Doyle........9

Subs
Gibson.......8
McShane....8
McGeady....7.5
I have never been so proud of a performance in the last 40 years......

**ball-hop** · 18/11/2009, 10:50 PM

Saw interview with Trappatoni on RTE - he referred to the decisions which went against Italy in South Korea.... Was his resignation from the Italian job linked to poor refereeing decisions in that match? He seemed right p'ed off and was definitely afraid to make too much comment, as was Tardelli.
Doyle and Zinedine were also very careful in their interviews, though Zinedine did say that Henry didn't apologise or freely admit to having handled the ball.
As someone said earlier.... now we know how England felt in 1986 - amazing 23 years on and football hasn't discovered a means of eliminating this blatant obvious form of "taking advantage of a situation"