Luck o'the French

Malouda said they were lucky....because the referee didn't see it. He is right. The hand of le God well and truly helped France to the World Cup finals in South Africa.

Henry has cheated, it was wrong, but I would have done the same and I think any other footballer in that position would have done the same. Handball, not get caught (by the referee) and play in the world cup. Yes please.

The media has gone wild again. As they always do when Johnny Foreigner cheats. Would the reaction have been the same if it was Rooney? I think not.

Is his reputation in tatters. Of course not. He has had the grace to admit it was a handball. Something Maradona never did. But it wasn't the Argentine's handball against us that tarnished his reputation, it was his continued drug abuse, of cocaine in particular and his use of ephedrine that caused his expulsion from the 1994 World Cup. I think the referee in last night's game has more to worry about in terms of reputation.

It means we have France in the finals. It would be a lesser tournament without them, and even worse if the Irish were there. They are not a good team and I hate Robbie Keane. He bitches and moans his way through every match. At least this time he has something genuine to moan about.

Now we get to see some of our own play on the biggest stage - Sagna, Clichy, Gallas, maybe Diaby and ofcourse Henry - who will always be Arsenal. And he'll be back at the club one day, in some capacity. And I can't wait.

Even more gutted that Arshavin won't be there. He really would have lit up the tournament. Instead we have Slovenia. Know any of their star players??? I think not. However I am pleased that UEFAs blatant attempt to get all the best teams in by deciding to introduce seeding at the last minute failed. Cheaters don't always prosper.

Nearly back to proper football. The team is damaged but not destroyed by the international break. Bring on Sunderland.