France reach finals after controversial Gallas goal

Former champions France secured their World Cup spot in controversial fashion last night after a dramatic 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland at the Stade de France to complete a 2-1 aggregate win.

Portugal were also safely through after they earned a 1-0 win over Bosnia. Slovenia and Greece produced the major setbacks when they ousted Russia and the Ukraine.

At the Stade de France, Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland, beaten 1-0 in Dublin last Saturday in the first leg of their play-off, had taken a shock lead in the 32nd minute through Robbie Keane and the Irish were unlucky not to score more before forcing the match to extra-time.

In the first additional 15-minute spell France had an appeal for a penalty turned down after striker Nicolas Anelka tumbled to the turf under pressure in the eighth minute. Five minutes later France skipper Thierry Henry, who had moments earlier been denied a free-kick after falling to the ground 25 yards out, won the match for the hosts when his angled pass amid a goalmouth scramble was met by William Gallas.

Henry's pass, however, came after the ball came off his hand prompting a rash of immediate protests by the Irish players to the match referee, Martin Hansson.

Hansson waved away appeals allowing France to qualify and avoid a repeat of their humiliating failure, at the hands of Bulgaria, to qualify for the 1994 finals.

Ireland, especially captain Robbie Keane, had the lion's share of the chances in regulation time, and they will be kicking themselves having last qualified for the 2002 World Cup where they got to the second round.

Portugal reached next year's World Cup finals after they completed a 2-0 aggregate victory over the Balkan country in their two-legged play-off.

Midfielder Raul Meireles scored a 56th-minute winner for the Portuguese to silence a raucous 15,000 home crowd in the cauldron of the Bilino Polje stadium.

"Bosnia is a good team but Portugal was too strong for them because we have an explosive combination of confidence, desire and determination," Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz told a news conference.

"We also have the experience required at this level and it's always easier when you've won the first leg.

"Losing our opening qualifying fixture to Denmark was a difficult moment for us and it gave some people the wrong impression about our ability.

"I have to congratulate my team for a spirited performance, while Bosnia will have gained respect after getting this far and proving to be stiff opponents."

Salpigidis winner

Greece qualified for the 2010 World Cup courtesy of a first-half goal from Dimitris Salpigidis.

The win gave Greece, who have reached the finals for a second time after making their bow in 1994, a 1-0 aggregate victory after their European play-off first leg ended goalless in Athens four days ago.

Salpigidis struck on 32 minutes when he beat keeper Andriy Pyatov from close range.

Slovenia beat nine-man Russia 1-0 to clinch a place in next year's finals.

Zlatko Dedic scored the only goal just before the break when he stabbed in a Valter Birsa cross as Slovenia overcame a 2-1 deficit from the first leg in Moscow to secure a ticket to South Africa on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw.

The Slovenians, ranked 49th in the world, caused a major upset to secure only their second appearance in the finals after making their debut in 2002.

Russia had substitute Alexander Kerzhakov sent off in the 66th minute following a violent clash with Slovenia keeper Samir Handanovic and Yuri Zhirkov was also dismissed in stoppage time when he was shown a second yellow card for dissent.

It was a bitter end for Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, who failed to guide his team to a major tournament for the first time in his career.

Qualified teams

Africa: Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria, South Africa (hosts).

Asia: Australia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand.

Europe: Denmark, England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, France, Portugal, Slovenia, Greece.

North America: Honduras, USA, Mexico.

South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay.