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Henry admits to handball

Author: Rose Young
Date: 20/11/2009
Football betting

Striker Thierry Henry has admitted that he did handle the ball in the build-up to the goal that sent France through to next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa at the Republic of Ireland's expense.

The former Arsenal star handled Florent Malouda's long ball into the box, before crossing for William Gallas to head the ball home.

The extra-time goal meant the play-off second leg clash ended 1-1 on the night, with Giovanni Trapattoni's team losing out following their 1-0 first leg defeat in Dublin on Saturday.

Henry admitted after the game: "Yes, there is a handball but I am not the referee.

"I'm in the box, there are two defenders in front of me. The ball bounced off my hand, the referee did not see it and I played on."

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Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz has said that Robinho regularly talks about the possibility of joining Barcelona.

The Brazil international, who has spent most of this season on the sidelines with an ankle problem, has been linked with a January move to the Camp Nou since the summer, although both clubs deny that talks have taken place.

Paraguay international Santa Cruz, who has also seen his season blighted by injury, told a Spanish radio station: "Of course he talks to us about moving to Barcelona and the players are cracking jokes about it in the dressing room.

"In the English papers there's a lot of interest about Barca and Robinho is not hiding his desire to play for them one day."

England have been forced to call up Kent off-spinner James Tredwell as cover after Graeme Swann was ruled out of the first two ODIs in South Africa due to a side strain.

Swann joins Stuart Broad (shoulder) on the sidelines, with Liam Plunkett having already joined up with the rest of the party as cover for the latter.

Middlesex have sealed the first half of an amazing double swoop by signing former Australia great Adam Gilchrist for next season's Twenty20 Cup campaign.

The 38-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has retired from all forms of the game apart from the shortest, as he continues to feature in the Indian Premier League for the Deccan Chargers.

His arrival to play for the Panthers is hoped to be quickly followed by a deal to bring India legend Sachin Tendulkar to Lord's for next season's Twenty20 Cup.

New Zealand have made 13 changes to their side to face England, with big-guns Richie McCaw and Dan Carter back in the starting line-up.

Both skipper McCaw and suspended star fly-half Carter missed last weekend's 20-6 victory over Italy in Rome.

But both have been recalled by All Black coach Graham Henry for the game at Twickenham in which Carter needs to score just two points to become his country's all-time leading scorer.

Winger Sitiveni Sivivatu is the only surviving member of the backline which won in Italy.

Team principal Ross Brawn has admitted he has been left 'very disappointed' by Jenson Button's decision to drive for McLaren next season.

Brawn had hoped to retain the recently crowned Formula One world champion following a series of talks since the 2009 season ended in glory in Adu Dhabi at the beginning of the month.

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