why everybody say that Ireland cheated out of World Cup slot?
Even if France never score I think would have gone to penalty
shootout? And seeing how unsteady the Irish shooters are (from the
match miss so many open goals) I think France would still have gone
in.
this is not a question of ireland qualifying. it is a question of
fairplay. if france go on and score thru a legitimate goal or via
penalties, then all is happy.
some absolved henri's blame, but i think he is the equal
guilty party here. a player of his stature cannot state that he
will commit the offence and let the referee decides. this is a
blatant disregard to the rules of the game. fifa should
ban him from the WC for bringing the game to disrepute.
if one remembers the eccentric paolo di canio during his west
ham days, he abruptly stopped play
twice during games. one was due to an everton goalkeeper
pulling a hamstring during the game. instead to scoring an easy
goal, he picked up the ball so the keeper could get medical
attention. on another game, he `over-ruled' a referee's decision to
give a penalty in his favor because he didn't deem that he was
fouled by his opponent. for his former heroics, he was given fifa's
fairplay award.
as for henri, he will now be remembered for this instead of his
scoring exploits. as the french captain, he disgraced his
country.
fifa should ordered a replay as the irish has requested. at
least if france win, they can go to south africa fair and square
with pride intact.
if not, i hope a small irish contingent can make the trip to
johannesburg during the WC and unfurled a banner during france's
first game that reads, "YOU SHOULD NOT BE HERE. YOU DIDN'T EARN
IT'.
