WHAT DOES THE IRISH AND FRENCH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAMS HAVE IN COMMON?
In 2009, Paris, the venue, France faced Ireland in a World Cup play-off.
Thierry Henry handled the ball twice before setting up William Gallas for the winner that put France through for the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa.
The whole football world went haywire. Thierry Henry had gone from hero to zero. He was being demonized by every pundit, analyst, and self-righteous commentator across God's green Earth.
It was as if he had never set the Premier League alight with silky skills. It was as if he had never won all the medals football has to offer. It was as if admitting to the handball wasn't enough.
You know why? Well, because cheating against the Irish to deprive them a place at the World Cup(as if that was even guaranteed) made every other positive achievement by Henry(and indeed France) count for nought.
Well, two years on and Mr Trappatoni's team faced Armenia. Both teams in a position to reach the play-offs in a bid to qualify for Euro 2012.
With the score at 0-0 and Armenia playing with a new-found confidence, Ireland had a curious case of deja-vu. Only, in this instance they had the luck of the Irish(naturally).
Simon Cox controlled a looped ball with his hand, and tried to lob Armenian 'keeper Roman Berezovsky outside the 18-yard box. The ball hit the 'keeper on his chest but, as if on cue, about six players in green surrounded referee Eduardo Gonzalez, campaigning to have Berezovsky sent off.
He duly complied by sending the keeper for a foul he did not commit. Meanwhile Simon Cox,who should have been booked for handball went scot-free.
That incident in the 26th minute, turned the game on it's head. Armenia played near-enough 3/4th of the game with 10 men. Inexperienced subtitute goalkeeper Arsen Petrosyan fluffed a cross that was to be bundled in by Richard Dunne. That goal proved the clincher.
Yet, no, you are not going to hear the media crucifying the Irish.
No, you are not going to hear the Irish FA offering a re-match.(Exactly the same thing they asked of the French).
Why?Oh, because it's just little old Armenia that nobody cares about. How sad is that?!
Such hypocrisy, is indeed a shame.
Thierry Henry handled the ball twice before setting up William Gallas for the winner that put France through for the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa.
The whole football world went haywire. Thierry Henry had gone from hero to zero. He was being demonized by every pundit, analyst, and self-righteous commentator across God's green Earth.
It was as if he had never set the Premier League alight with silky skills. It was as if he had never won all the medals football has to offer. It was as if admitting to the handball wasn't enough.
You know why? Well, because cheating against the Irish to deprive them a place at the World Cup(as if that was even guaranteed) made every other positive achievement by Henry(and indeed France) count for nought.
Well, two years on and Mr Trappatoni's team faced Armenia. Both teams in a position to reach the play-offs in a bid to qualify for Euro 2012.
With the score at 0-0 and Armenia playing with a new-found confidence, Ireland had a curious case of deja-vu. Only, in this instance they had the luck of the Irish(naturally).
Simon Cox controlled a looped ball with his hand, and tried to lob Armenian 'keeper Roman Berezovsky outside the 18-yard box. The ball hit the 'keeper on his chest but, as if on cue, about six players in green surrounded referee Eduardo Gonzalez, campaigning to have Berezovsky sent off.
He duly complied by sending the keeper for a foul he did not commit. Meanwhile Simon Cox,who should have been booked for handball went scot-free.
That incident in the 26th minute, turned the game on it's head. Armenia played near-enough 3/4th of the game with 10 men. Inexperienced subtitute goalkeeper Arsen Petrosyan fluffed a cross that was to be bundled in by Richard Dunne. That goal proved the clincher.
Yet, no, you are not going to hear the media crucifying the Irish.
No, you are not going to hear the Irish FA offering a re-match.(Exactly the same thing they asked of the French).
Why?Oh, because it's just little old Armenia that nobody cares about. How sad is that?!
Such hypocrisy, is indeed a shame.
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