World Cup recap: field set as France advance amid controversy

November 18, 8:19 PMSoccer ExaminerNicholas Richards

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The World Cup Final field is now set as France, Portugal, Slovenia, Greece, Algeria, and Uruguay wrapped up the last spots in South Africa for next summer's showpiece. 

France scarcely deserved their final spot outright after a 1-1 draw with Ireland in Stade De France. The match was mired in controversy after Thierry Henry's offside-hand ball combo in stoppage time allowed William Gallas to head in from close range, and embattled manager Raymond Domenech - booed by the home supporters when his image was displayed on the big screen in Paris - lived to fight another day as France's head man. The assertion from Lassana Diarra that the tie was over after France won, 1-0, in Dublin on Nov. 14 turned out to be far from the truth as the French turned in a dull display yet again. Judging from the reactions of the players after the match - particularly Henry, who admitted post-match that he handled the ball but blamed the official for not calling it - they know they are lucky to have booked a place in South Africa. 

In the 103rd minute, Florent Malouda lofted a free kick into the Irish penalty area. Henry, the former Arsenal captain, was offside as Malouda struck the ball, and then handled the kick in the penalty area twice before flicking across the face of goal for Gallas to head in unmarked. The entire Irish defense stopped and raised their hands to signal the obvious hand ball, but none of the officials caught the error, and the French held on for the rest of stoppage time to move into the World Cup.

Robbie Keane scored in the 32nd minute for the Irish, equaling the away goal Nicolas Anelka scored for the French in Ireland. John O'Shea blasted a close-range volley over the goal in the 47th minute, and Damien Duff - creator of Keane's goal - was denied in a 1 v 1 with French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris as the match went into extra time. The Irish will be hard done by this result, a result they didn't deserve in a spirited display that should have seen them at least earn a shootout - a fate Irish coach Giovanni Trappatoni would've preferred over Henry's Maradona impression. It also must raise some questions as to how such obvious errors were missed in such a crucial match and why some sort of replay technology is not used in situations like these. 

Portugal, sans Cristiano Ronaldo, moved on with a professional victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1-0, to book their spot along the French in the Rainbow Nation. 

Greece, managed by the man that led them to victory in Euro 2004, Otto Rehhagel, stunned Ukraine, winning 1-0 in Donetsk to beat the Ukrainians, 1-0, on aggregate. This will likely be the last foray into international football for Andriy Shevchenko - who missed a wide open chance early in the match to put his side in the lead.

The shocker of the day was Russia, who tied on aggregate with Slovenia, 2-2, but because Slovenia scored an away goal in the first match, it's the Slovenians who move on after their 1-0 win this evening. Guus Hiddink's men had two red cards and couldn't overcome playing short-handed. Russia finished with 22 points in qualifying - more than the four UEFA nations that moved on - but fell victim to the playoff.

Algeria clinched the last spot from Africa by beating Egypt, 1-0, on a stunning volley from Antar Yahia in the 39th minutes, knocking the African champions out of the tournament and moving the Desert Foxes into their first World Cup since 1986.

The last spot to be decided went to Uruguay, who defeated Costa Rica, 2-1, on aggregate after their 1-1 draw in Montevideo. Costa Rica was seconds away from qualifying outright from CONCACAF in Hexagonal play but allowed a stoppage time goal against the United States to fall into the playoffs, and now they are not going to South Africa.

These nations are heading to South Africa:

South Africa, Denmark, France, England, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Honduras, Mexico, United States,  Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, New Zealand. 

Next up is the crucial World Cup draw, to be held December 4 in Cape Town. The tournament begins June 11, 2010 in Johannesburg.