Thierry Henry is my favorite player of all time. He has had so many magical moments on the pitch that it is hard for me to list them all. That is what makes this all the more painful. Yes, Ireland should have taken their chances. Yes, this will renew the call for instant replay. Yes, if it goes to penalty kicks, most people would bet on France to hit more than Ireland.
That does not make this moment any less outrageous. It was not an accidental handball. It was deliberate, diabolical, and perhaps the most unjust moment in an important football game in a generation.
I think it would have been fun to have the Irish in South Africa, but that is almost beside the point. I know which team I will be rooting for next summer – WHOEVER PLAYS FRANCE!
