I don’t mind admitting that, when provoked, I won’t forgive. Rather like Maradona in 1986, I will never forgive Thierry Henry and I hope he’s ashamed of himself. Given the opportunity, I’ll boo him in South Africa.

For, in my view, like the Argentine, Henry’s status as a ‘great’ footballer will always be tainted.

How can you celebrate a goal when you know that you’ve cheated? How did he have the nerve to sit down on the pitch with Richard Dunne afterwards?

How did the Irish defender resist the urge to smack the Frenchman in the face?

The Republic were brilliant. Having witnessed some of their best moments in previous World Cups, I can’t think of any one finer. I said last week that, at Croke Park, they didn’t do anything especially wrong.

At Stade de France, they did most things right. There was NO weakness and Giovanni Trapattoni chose his tactics superbly. Ireland showed no fear and no end of courage.

They did not deserve to go out to a self-confessed cheat like Henry. And hands up please any fool out there that is still against the use of video technology.