Source: Daily_Mail
Thierry Henry's France boys torn between tantrums and true quality
What are we to make of France? They stand on the brink of a fourth consecutive World Cup, were losing finalists last time and yet are plainly not at ease with themselves.[LNB]There were flashes of cohesion and quality in Dublin on Saturday night, but France won courtesy of a deflected shot that clipped a post. An inch the other way and we would be discussing a 0-0 draw.[LNB]That scoreline was the principle objective of a Republic of Ireland side that everyone from Donegal to Cork agrees is limited. That is one context in which to assess the French victory. It is not hugely flattering.[LNB] Ecstasy and agony: Nicolas Anelka celebrates his winner as Damien Duff sums up the Republic of Ireland's misery after losing 1-0 at Croke Park on Saturday[LNB]Another context against which they must be judged is the undisguised issue at the core of the France set-up, the authority of manager Raymond Domenech, or the lack of it, and the role of Thierry Henry.[LNB]Thirty minutes into a match that Giovanni Trapattoni attempted to neutralise, William Gallas erupted 10 yards away from the touchline on which Domenech stood.[LNB] Republic of Ireland 0 France 1: Irish rage at Diarra slur as they head for ParisStoke midfielder Whelan flourishing under Trapattoni's Republic reignAnelka leaves Irish with a mountain to climbRORY FALLON EXCLUSIVE: How I made World Cup history for New Zealand The ball was on the opposite side of the pitch and that allowed Gallas to stretch his arms towards Domenech in a repeated plea for directions. [LNB]Gallas was pointing at his midfield. France were hardly being over-run but Keith Andrews had just fashioned a chance from outside the visitors' area and Lassana Diarra was not the force in the game he would become.[LNB]Gallas blew up. Domenech responded with his own, outstretched arms gesture. Gallas returned to his central position, his concerns ongoing.[LNB]Alongside him, the shaky Eric Abidal was about to provide the first of two aberrations that a better team than the Irish would have exploited. France were unconvincing.[LNB]As Yoann Gourcuff said: 'In the first half our centre-halves had trouble clearing the ball cleanly. In the second we were more available and more mobile, which simplified our game.[LNB] Not at ease: Frustrated William Gallas blew up asking his manager for guidance[LNB]'We've got players who are good on the ball and we're even better when we manage to keep hold of it.'[LNB]The Gallas moment was not on the scale of his Birmingham City sitdown dramatics two seasons ago, but it was another yet another illustration of the tension that lies at the heart of France.[LNB]'I always talk with Thierry... this time he saw the light' Domenech must be on some salary to put up with it all.[LNB]The coach's night began with Henry allegedly informing Domenech presumably not for the first time that not including Patrick Vieira in the squad was an error.[LNB]Jeremy Toulalan's injury highlighted thin midfield cover and Henry was said to have been sufficiently annoyed not to join in the pre-match pitch walkabout.[LNB]Domenech's night ended with questions being asked about this.[LNB]He smiled a weary smile and said: 'I always speak with Thierry Henry, he is the captain after all. We always talk about the game, about tactics. This time he saw the light.'[LNB]It was lost in translation, but the last line was probably delivered with sarcasm, a Domenech trait.[LNB]Lost in translation: Raymond Domenech insists he discusses everything with his captain Thierry Henry[LNB]Whether Henry sees it that way is another matter, but what was not in question on Saturday night was Henry's commitment. This may not have been a vintage creative performance from the brilliant forward, but what a shift he put in.[LNB]Shuttling between attack and defence, Henry contributed a massivephysical effort, one late near-post clearing header was followed immediately by support for Andre-Pierre Gignac outside the Irish penalty area.[LNB]In France there is still an opinion that even after 116 caps Henry has a surly adolescent aspect to him, but in terms of heart and guts supposedly Irish characteristics no-one gave more than the 32-year-old France captain.[LNB]A recent quotation from Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was reprinted in the match programme: 'Thierry Henry has taken things in hand (with the national team).[LNB]'He broke the final barrier last season by winning everything with Barcelona. This has given him a form of superior certitude he didn't have before. Because he's very intelligent, he could identify the problem in the national team and express it.'[LNB]There is no doubt Henry is this team's leader.[LNB]Gourcuff added: 'As for set-pieces, the coach told me this morning that Thierry Henry would take them. That's all I know.'[LNB]Others such as Nicolas Anelka were equally tireless, while Gourcuff, even though he was not prospering, kept going. Diarra got better as the match wore on and the Irish dipped. It was billed as Gaelic versus Gallic but that never transpired.[LNB] Halfway there: Victory in Dublin leaves France on the brink of qualification[LNB]Trapattoni has a technocratic approach that means his players cannot yield to their inner Irishness.[LNB]There was pressure and there was noise, but as long as the French remained obdurate, it felt like they would prevail.[LNB]And though they did not flow and were prone to defensive mistakes, France were resilient.[LNB]French president Nicolas Sarkozy has initiated a debate on national identity and the cliche of the Gallic shrug needs scrutiny.[LNB]As one player said at Clarefontaine last week, Africa has a real meaning for many members of this squad.[LNB]Now they are halfway there, but who knows which France will turn up for the second leg.[LNB] Republic of Ireland 0 France 1: Irish rage at Diarra slur as they head for ParisStoke midfielder Whelan flourishing under Trapattoni's Republic reignAnelka leaves Irish with a mountain to climbRORY FALLON EXCLUSIVE: How I made World Cup history for New Zealand [LNB] Explore more:People:Nicolas Anelka, Raymond Domenech, Lassana Diarra, Nicolas Sarkozy, Keith Andrews, Damien Duff, Arsene Wenger, Thierry Henry, WILLIAM GALLAS, Patrick VieiraPlaces:Barcelona, Dublin, Republic of Ireland, France, Africa, Croke Park
