France do not deserve World Cup place - poll

Most people in France do not think their football team deserves to be in the 2010 World Cup and did not approve of Thierry Henry's handball that helped secure a finals place, according to an opinion poll published yesterday. Henry clearly handled the...

Most people in France do not think their football team deserves to be in the 2010 World Cup and did not approve of Thierry Henry's handball that helped secure a finals place, according to an opinion poll published yesterday.

Henry clearly handled the ball when setting up a late, decisive goal in the second leg of their play-off against Ireland last week, winning France a place in the World Cup finals.

But an OpinionWay poll for French state television said 81 per cent of French people did not think their national team deserved to go to South Africa given their unconvincing performances throughout the qualifying stages.

An even bigger 88 per cent said Henry was wrong to have used his hand to keep the ball in play and thereby create the vital scoring opportunity.

FIFA ruled that the result should stand and that France rather than Ireland should take part in the World Cup.

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