Reading FC

IT’S ALL OVER NOW: Royals striker Shane Long’s World Cup hopes were dashed by Thierry Henry’s handball Picture: EDDIE GREVILLE

You need Flash player 8+ and JavaScript enabled to view this video.

298

250

false

JpywqLIPBAY

Long: Why I don't blame Thierry Henry

By Matthew Sadler
November 20, 2009

Shane Long insists he does not blame Thierry Henry for the controversial goal that ended the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup dreams.

France skipper Henry clearly handled the ball before crossing to William Gallas, who fired home the goal that sealed a 2-1 aggregate win after extra-time.

But Long, who missed the game through injury, admits most players would have done the same thing if the opportunity arose.

The Reading and Ireland striker said: “It’s disappointing. You wait four years to get to a World Cup and for it all to come down to a decision like that is frustrating, but that is football I suppose.

“You can’t do anything about that now and we can only build for the European Championships in three years time.

“You are in France, playing in front of how many thousand people and they are all wanting you to get to the World Cup.

“The ball is there to be stuck into the net and you will put it in however you can.

“There were two offsides, three handballs and it was still a goal. It’s frustrating, but I can’t blame Henry for doing it.”

The former Cork City striker had been hopeful of a return to action for Reading in tomorrow’s home game against Blackpool (3pm kick-off).

But the ankle injury he aggravated in Royals’ 1-1 draw with Ipswich two weeks ago has not healed as quickly as hoped.

If he is not available, boss Brendan Rodgers will be left with just Simon Church and Grzegorz Rasiak to choose from up front as Noel Hunt, the only other recognised senior striker, is sidelined for the rest of the season by a knee injury.

Long admits the club could benefit from striking reinforcements.

He said: “I’ve been trying to get fit and I have had to get another injection in my ankle.

“Hopefully I will be okay for tomorrow, but it is looking more likely it will be the next weekend.

“There is quality here and there are four strikers, but another wouldn’t be bad for the club as a whole.

“As a striker I want to play every week and don’t think we need another one, but as a club one more would add to the competition and give the team a boost.”

| Submit Comments | View Comments (3)