🎥 On This Day: Thierry Henry's Hand of God against Ireland | OneFootball

It feels like only yesterday so it’s hard to believe that it’s been exactly nine years since Thierry Henry broke Irish hearts with his infamous hand ball.

France took on the Republic of Ireland in a qualification play-off for the 2010 World Cup and in extra-time of the second leg, Henry set up William Gallas for the tie’s decisive goal.

But replays showed the former Arsenal and Barcelona striker had clearly used his hand to control the ball in the build-up to the goal and in Ireland, he’ll probably never be forgiven.

Speaking in 2015, the current Monaco coach admitted he’d apologised to Ireland’s players straight after the final whistle.

“You are talking about people I spent so many times on the pitch with,” he told Canal Plus.

“I just said to them, ‘Yes, it was hand, I’m sorry.’ And you know what? They told me: ‘We don’t blame you.’

“I spoke honestly – it was a reflex. A reflex by a competitor, just like when you reach out for the ball on the line when your goalkeeper is beaten.

“When I see Messi scoring against Espanyol, diving to touch the ball with his hand, people say, ‘What a genius, now he is closer than ever to Maradona.’

“But when it was me, it was like I had killed someone.”

But there was to be some poetic justice to end the story. France were eliminated at the group stage in South Africa after finishing bottom of their group with just one point from three matches.

It was scant consolation for Ireland, however, who are still waiting for their first World Cup finals appearance since 2002.