Source: Daily_Mail
Rep of Ireland 0 France 1: Irish rage at Diarra slur as they head for Paris
It took an insulting, foul-mouthed remark by Lassana Diarra and his refusal to shake Keith Andrews' hand to truly rile the Republic of Ireland and remind them what is at stake this week. [LNB]The France midfielder, whose brilliance had helped virtually destroy the home side's World Cup dream, gave Giovanni Trapattoni's side every incentive to turn round this tie at the Stade de France on Wednesday night. [LNB]As Andrews and Diarra came together after the final whistle, Diarra said to his opponent: '**** off, Irish p****. You are out.'[LNB] Flashpoint: Andrews (left) is restrained by Whelan after a remark by Diarra (No 6) at the final whistle angers the Irish player[LNB]Andrews was ready to fight the Real Madrid star and the Blackburn man's cause was taken up in the centre circle by Richard Dunne, his eyes bulging, his biceps and enormous hands ready to maim. Dunne tried to get his considerable frame within touching distance of Diarra. If he had done so, there would have been no contest. [LNB] Thierry Henry's France boys torn between tantrums and true qualityStoke 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 Peacemaker Thierry Henry calmed down Dunne with a warm embrace. 'It's one of those things that happened on the pitch and stays on the pitch,' said Dunne. But the damage has been done. [LNB]The ugly scenes after France's devastating 1-0 win, achieved thanks to Nicolas Anelka's deflected shot, were a reminder that while Ireland are a limited side, they still have the passion and spirit to pull off a miracle in Paris on Wednesday. [LNB]There was silence on the team bus all the way to their hotel 20 minutes up the coast. They headed to their rooms, having still barely uttered a word. Not until they reconvened for breakfast did Trapattoni's men start to address this week's re-match and confronting Diarra again. [LNB]Speaking on Sunday, Andrews said of his clash with Diarra: 'It was a disrespectful comment which typifies them, to be honest. It was typical of him and the way he was. [LNB]'There was a bit of niggle in the game but that happens. When the final whistle went, I saw him walking towards me and I thought he was going to shake my hand. [LNB] Finishing touch: Nicolas Anelka sees his goalbound shot take a fortuitous deflection of off Sean St Ledger to give France a slender halfway lead[LNB]'Then he made a remark and, to be fair, I lost my head a bit. The manager has said he insulted Irish people, which is about accurate. [LNB]'You don't expect that from a professional. This play-off is only half-finished and for a person to come out with something like that, it's very disappointing. Oour lads are aware of it so we'll see what happens. I don't think it'll take any extra motivation to win it. There's a World Cup place at stake.' [LNB]Goalkeeper Shay Given, who was deceived when Anelka's shot flicked off Sean St Ledger's backside and beat him to his left 17 minutes from the end, was the last player to climb on to the bus at Croke Park. Unlike his team-mates and Trapattoni, [LNB]Given stopped briefly to start the rallying call for Wednesday's showdown. [LNB]And the message was that Ireland, even though they have never beaten a major footballing nation away from home, are not out of this yet. 'Do you feel sorry for yourself?' he said, 'or do you get your head down? We're disappointed and they had a bit of luck with the goal, so that's a kick in the teeth, but we have to go for it. [LNB]'We had to score a goal in the two legs and that's the same now. If we grab one out there, it's game on. There is a lot to play for yet. They will think they have gone through already but hopefully we'll have something to say about that.' [LNB] Fightback: Patrice Evra goes over 'keeper Shay Given, who is optimistic Ireland are not dead and buried in this World Cup play-off tie just yet[LNB]The decisive moment was particularly cruel on St Ledger, whose previous goal at Croke Park had been the late diving header against Italy last month which appeared to have taken Ireland a step closer to their first finals in seven years. [LNB]The Middlesbrough defender, like so many under Trapattoni, performed to his potential, but Ireland were sometimes exposed by the the French, who were also denied a penalty when Given brought down Patrice Evra. [LNB]Trapattoni's omission of Andy Reid, who might have lifted the home side in the game's final quarter, will be debated long and hard. The Italian's substitutions also backfired and made no sense. [LNB]Apart from a close-range shot from Liam Lawrence which Evra somehow touched wide in the first half, the Ireland manager will point out that his side's best chance came in the dying minutes when Hugo Lloris saved brilliantly at the feet of Glenn Whelan. [LNB]That would have been 1-1 and made Wednesday even more intriguing. As it is, Ireland need an early goal, a clean sheet and probably penalties. It is a lot to ask, even against a France side hit last night by defender Eric Abidal's withdrawal due to injury. [LNB] Trapattoni remains optimistic. 'France had more possession but we had chances. [LNB]'The team were sad but they have character, they are proud and we must get the same reaction in Paris, like our people.' [LNB] Thierry Henry's France boys torn between tantrums and true qualityStoke 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, Lassana Diarra, Patrice Evra, Keith Andrews, Liam Lawrence, Shay Given, Thierry Henry, Richard DunnePlaces:Paris, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Ireland, France, Croke Park
