Henry insists group is still open
Thursday, 8 September 2005 13:48"This group is still not finished yet," was Thierry Henry's verdict after hammering a huge dent in the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifying hopes.
The prolific France and Arsenal striker is right because Ireland are down, but not out despite suffering their first defeat in Group Four, and ensuring the road to Germany for manager Brian Kerr's side is now riddled with doubt.
The only sure-fire certainty for Kerr and his players is they must win their final two games, against Cyprus in Nicosia on October 8 and then Switzerland at Lansdowne Road four days later.
That should be enough to clinch a play-off place because the French still have to face the Swiss the same night Ireland are in Cyprus, albeit without Roy Keane, Andy Reid and Clinton Morrison.
The trio were booked and are now suspended, adding to Kerr's worries for a game that is by no means a formality, not after the way the Cypriots held Switzerland for 70 minutes before succumbing to a 3-1 defeat.
In describing his stunning effort, Henry produced one of the understatements of the year as he simply said: "I had the opportunity and I just put it into the back of the net. It was hard battling on my own up front, but I just said to myself if I had a chance to do something then I would try, and that is what happened.
"Sometimes you try these things and the ball ends up in the stand, so I am delighted it went in - but for the team, because that's the main thing for me."
Henry appreciated his side were fortunate to come away with the win, adding: "A draw would not have been a bad result for either side. There was not a lot between the two teams, and in a way Ireland did not deserve to lose, but sometimes these things happen."
He added: "However, there is still a long way to go. While it was important for us to win, this group is still not finished yet."
