Football: Ireland return to scene of infamous Henry handball

Author: Agencies

PARIS: The Euro 2016 match with Sweden at Stade de France on Monday offered the Republic of Ireland the chance to exorcise the ghost of one of the most notorious incidents in international football.

Thierry Henry’s handball in extra time set up William Gallas for the decisive goal when France played Ireland in a World Cup qualifying play-off in November 2009. It sparked an international outcry.

Of the Ireland team that started that night, goalkeeper Shay Given, John O’Shea, Glenn Whelan and striker Robbie Keane all survived to make Martin O’Neill’s squad for this European Championship. Aiden McGeady, who came off the bench, is also in France.

When 40-year-old Shay was asked this week if his team were finally due a break at the Stade de France, he said, “Hopefully, but it’s not about looking back, it’s about Sweden on Monday night and what happened is gone now. It’s a fantastic stadium, with an amazing atmosphere when we did play there.”

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