EastStandBlue
Life President
The battle-lines were drawn, the trenches were dug and, in an all too familiar scene throughout history, a frenchman was preparing a white flag. Thierry Henry was considering retiring from international football.
The forward told France's L'Equipe newspaper in an exclusive, yet completely sycophantic, interview that he debated throwing in the towel following the widespread criticism he received for his "Hand of Gaul" moment in Paris last week.
The real question, however, is just what did Thierry expect? Not just the hand-ball, but his celebrations after the event tarnished a reputation that was already faltering. Lets not mistake this for an unfortunate circumstance that happened to a model professional, Henry swooped his left arm to handle the ball, twice, in a deliberate attempt to give his team an advantage that was neither justified or deserved. The resulting outcry is the least of his worries.
He then joined in with what appears to be the flavour of the month in France, criticising the French Football Association. Stopping just short of burning effigies of Raymond Domenech in the streets of Paris, the French public have been strong in their criticism of recent events. In a poll, 80% of the public were ashamed by how they won their qualifier with an even higher percentage wanting Domenech out of a job by the time the jet board for Jo'berg. I wonder what Raymond sees in his horoscope for June...
Yes, yes, Henry did release a statement in the aftermath saying that a replay would be the "fair solution", but it was all too easy to say that after FIFA had ruled out the possibility of such an event. These latest attempts to appease the baying press will achieve little to rescue a reputation that now partners Maradona in the depths of world football.
If Henry really wanted to earn back his reputation, he'd shut up, get his head down and concentrate on his football for a change.
The forward told France's L'Equipe newspaper in an exclusive, yet completely sycophantic, interview that he debated throwing in the towel following the widespread criticism he received for his "Hand of Gaul" moment in Paris last week.
The real question, however, is just what did Thierry expect? Not just the hand-ball, but his celebrations after the event tarnished a reputation that was already faltering. Lets not mistake this for an unfortunate circumstance that happened to a model professional, Henry swooped his left arm to handle the ball, twice, in a deliberate attempt to give his team an advantage that was neither justified or deserved. The resulting outcry is the least of his worries.
He then joined in with what appears to be the flavour of the month in France, criticising the French Football Association. Stopping just short of burning effigies of Raymond Domenech in the streets of Paris, the French public have been strong in their criticism of recent events. In a poll, 80% of the public were ashamed by how they won their qualifier with an even higher percentage wanting Domenech out of a job by the time the jet board for Jo'berg. I wonder what Raymond sees in his horoscope for June...
Yes, yes, Henry did release a statement in the aftermath saying that a replay would be the "fair solution", but it was all too easy to say that after FIFA had ruled out the possibility of such an event. These latest attempts to appease the baying press will achieve little to rescue a reputation that now partners Maradona in the depths of world football.
If Henry really wanted to earn back his reputation, he'd shut up, get his head down and concentrate on his football for a change.
