Blatant handball puts France on the plane
- Source: Global Times
- [08:04 November 20 2009]
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TV grab shows Thierry Henry (left) touching the ball with his hand before making an angled cross that lead to the winning goal during the game on Thursday. Photo: AFP
France, with a controversial extra-time goal from William Gallas, squeezed into the World Cup finals despite failing to beat Ireland in Paris while Slovenia upset Russia on a nail-biting night of qualifiers on Thursday.
France progressed after a 1-1 draw with Ireland gave the 2006 finalists a 2-1 aggregate victory but they needed Gallas's close-range goal, after a blatant Thierry Henry handball in the buildup, to win the tie.
They go through to next year's extravaganza in South Africa along with Slovenia, Greece, Portugal and Algeria, who beat Egypt 1-0 in neutral Sudan to win a tense sudden-death playoff to secure the final African qualifying berth.
Uruguay became the last finalist when they drew 1-1 with Costa Rica in the second leg of the South American/CONCACAF playoff in Montevideo. Uruguay won the first leg 1-0 and went through to the finals on a 2-1 aggregate win.
France fell behind to a battling Irish side who scored through skipper Robbie Keane after 33 minutes.
They only equalized 13 minutes into extra time when Gallas scored, helped by Henry controlling the ball with his hand in a crowded penalty area and then crossing for the defender to bundle home.
Unlike Ireland, Slovenia managed to clinch an upset by knocking out Russia who paid a heavy price for not wrapping up the first leg on Saturday when they allowed Slovenia a late goal in a 2-1 win.
Russia's late lapse proved costly in Maribor as Zlatko Dedic scored the only goal just before the break.
That was enough to give Slovenia the tie on the away goals rule as they reached the World Cup finals for the second time since joining FIFA as an independent nation in 1992.
