Thierry Henry believes France did not get the rub of the green after they crashed out of Euro 2008 at the hands of world champions Italy on Tuesday night.
France's hopes of victory were undermined as early as the 24th minute when Eric Abidal was sent-off for a professional foul on Luca Toni in the penalty area.
With star man Franck Ribery having already been taken from the pitch on a stretcher with a leg injury, France's woes were compounded when Andrea Pirlo scored from the resulting penalty.
Daniele Di Rossi then sealed Italy's 2-0 win when his second-half free-kick, which deflected off Henry, nestled in the back of the French goal.
According to Henry, the match was a reflection of a campaign in which the French failed to ride their luck.
The Barcelona striker drew attention to a handball by Holland defender Andre Ooijer in France's previous game, a 4-1 defeat to the eventual group winners, which could have seen Raymond Domenech's side gain an advantage similar to that enjoyed by the Italians last night.
'I do not want to make excuses but if we had the penalty and the red card (for Ooijer's handball) against Holland that the Italians had against us things could have been different,' he told French newspaper L'Equipe.
'It is very difficult to play against Italy with ten men.'
Many observers have spoken of France's fall from grace after their impressive run to the 2006 World Cup final.
But Henry refuses to look upon that campaign, which also ended in a defeat to Italy, more fondly than this first-round exit.
'It is a failure if you lose at the final or in the first round,' he said.
'Evidently at the World Cup there was more momentum but the result is the same. You return home with nothing.'
The former Arsenal star feels France can not blame their disappointing 0-0 draw with Romania in the opening game of the tournament for their ultimate failure.
'Obviously it would have been better to start with a win,' said Henry. 'But there was still a big chance of qualification.'
France's exit at the group stage will undoubtedly raise questions over Domenech's tenure as the national team coach, but Henry is happy to back the retention of the 56-year-old tactician.
He said: 'Personally, I do not see a problem. You win and you lose as a group.'
