French Inquisition

The French Football Federation should offer Ireland a replay, plain and simple. The French team and public could feel no pride in reaching the finals next summer if they had won a place by so blatantly flouting the rules.

Thierry Henry is, and always will be, a club legend. Last night, he had a split second to choose how to react to the goal, and he made the wrong decision. He clearly regretted this as he immediately spoke to and consoled Richard Dunne after the final whistle, but he knows full well that post-match niceties count for nothing when he should have owned up to the handball straight away. He always played with integrity and honesty during his time at Arsenal, but his conduct after the goal last night was a real disappointment. If he's the player we all remember, he'll do something to clear his name.

I suppose the pressure of playing for such an underachieving team, with a clueless poodle for a manager and a simply bizarre lineup behind him, may have got to him. He seemed to resign himself to the euphoria sweeping the stadium, and his celebration has rightly been met with fury by Irish and neutral fans. The relief amongst his teammates was palpable, and perhaps he was torn between his sportsmanship and his loyalty to his country; if nothing else, I can at least understand his frustration at effectively being given the job of taking over from Gignac's special needs carer for an evening.

No one seems to have noticed Gallas' behaviour in all of this. For a player known for having about as much professionalism as Domenech has tactical awareness, it may have come as no surprise to many that he had no qualms about rushing off to celebrate despite clearly seeing the handball, but I was beginning to think after his performances over the last year that he had matured. No doubt if Ireland had scored the decisive goal in the same manner, Gallas would have screamed uncontrollably in the officials' faces, refusing to leave the pitch even after the wincing, spit-speckled referee had peeled the Frenchman's strands of phlegm from his person and brandished the red card.

A replay is unlikely, but the FFF would be foolish not to offer one. They would probably win anyway, considering the enormous pressure on Ireland to produce another performance, and would be acclaimed for the finest show of sportsmanship in the history of football. If they don't take the risk, the French national team will forever be known as cheats.

Which would be pretty crap for us. Can't wait to see Gallas and Sagna running out at the Stadium of Light on Saturday...

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