France Is on To World Cup After 1-1 Extratime Draw Against Ireland

After a 1-0 loss at Croke Park during the first leg of the UEFA World Cup qualifying playoff, Ireland traveled to France to take on the French National team in a match in which one of the two countries would advance onto the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Going into this match, the Irish were looking to get back into this playoff after allowing that away goal, while France, who were in the World Cup finals in 2006, were looking to get back to the greatest tournament in world football by qualifying at home in the Stade de France.

Early on, the French came out of the gate on the offensive, as they continued to pepper the Irish goal with shots, but Ireland's keeper Shay Given was equal to the challenge, as he was stopping everything that came his way.

And in the 33rd minute, Ireland were able to finally score, as it was Robbie Keane who was able to get the Irish on the board with a low shot into the right corner off a pass from Damien Duff, giving Ireland a 1-0 lead and tying up the playoff at one on aggregate.

After the goal, the French continued to attack the Irish goal, but Given and the Irish defense were able to prevent any goals and as the first half ended, Ireland held a 1-0 lead.

As the second half begun, the Irish were able to get some offensive pressure on the French net, but France quickly turned the tables and started to attack the Irish net.

However, they weren't able to score on the Irish net and the Irish defense was able to keep the French attack at bay.

After Ireland replaced Glenn Whelan with Daniel Gibson and John O'Shea with Paul McShane, the French continued their assault on the Irish net, but they were still unable to score.

In the final 10 minutes of play, both sides were still unable to score, which meant that Ireland and France now had to play each other for at least 30 more minutes, with one of these countries heading onto the World Cup.

In the first period of extra time, no team was able to get any good scoring opportunities until the 104th minute, which completely changed the entire complection of the game changed.

On that play, French legend Thierry Henry crossed the ball into the box, where William Gallas was able to head in the cross, tying the game at one and gave France a 2-1 lead on aggregate, which France held at the end of the first period of extra time.

However, it appeared that Henry did handle the football with his hand before providing that cross, but Swedish referee Martin Hannson and his assistants saw nothing wrong with the play, and the goal stood.

In the second period of extra time, the French once again dominated possession, and Ireland were unable to score, ending the game with a 1-1 draw and the French are now onto the World Cup once again.

With the win, France have joined Greece, Slovenia, and Portugal out of UEFA as countries that have now qualified for the World Cup through this playoff while Ireland will head back home, knowing that they were so close to going back to the World Cup for the first time since 2002.