Thierry Henry unites Irish and English | Henry McDonaldWritten by: Guðmundur Jónsson on 19th November 2009
 
After last night’s handball, Ireland might finally be forced to cut English fans a little slack over their Hand of God whinging What I am about write pains me, as it probably does every Irish football fan, but after Ireland’s exit from the World Cup in Paris I now know how the English feel. For almost 23 years the English have been reminding us and the rest of the world about that goal in Mexico City. We Irish are experiencing the same sense of injustice that the English endured after Maradona handled the ball over Peter Shilton’s head and put Argentina ahead in the World Cup quarter-final. Every English commentator in the print and electronic media never ceases to remind everyone else in the football world about the Argentinian legend’s blatant cheating against the late Bobby Robson’s side in the Azteca stadium. To be honest, the Irish wearied of their protests and constant harking back to that infamous goal as Argentina marched onward through the tournament to win the World Cup. For the Irish, mentioning the Hand of God goal has become as synonymous with English soccer chauvinism as hooligans, those constant replays of 1966 and those annoying recurring (and of course always inaccurate) predictions that this year, honestly, England are good enough to win the World Cup. But maybe now the snide marks and cynicism about England’s most painful football hour should stop. For a start the English commentators have instantly sided with Ireland in the furore over Thierry Henry’s hand-passes to William Gallas and the goal that stopped us from travelling to South Africa next year. And while we are on the subject of Henry’s double handball in extra time, perhaps the former Arsenal star could take up a new sport when he finally hangs up his soccer boots. Gaelic football might be a nice hobby to pass the time – Ireland’s premier sport not only requires an ability to kick the ball but also to catch it in the air and hand-pass it to your colleagues. Henry in the Kerry or Dublin first 15 at Croke Park would be a sight to behold. As I write, less than an hour after watching the World Cup play off, I am drowning my sorrows (hypocritically) with a bottle of Bordeaux. It may be the last consumed in the McDonald household for some time, and the kids in future will be treated to “Freedom Fries” rather than French ones. Meantime, if I was an advertising executive at Renault I would think twice about trying to flog cars via TV ads that featured Thierry Henry and a red chilli.
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