Overtime goal against Ireland puts France in 2010 World Cup

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France, which won the 1998 World Cup as host and lost the 2006 final to Italy on penalty kicks in Germany, today was taken to overtime by Ireland in Paris but eventually managed a 1-1 tie that secured the French their ticket to South Africa.

A goal by veteran William Gallas in the 104th minute canceled out a 33rd-minute goal by Ireland’s Robbie Keane and gave Les Bleus a 2-1 aggregate victory over two games.

Coach Raymond Domenech’s team had beaten the Irish, 1-0, in Dublin on Saturday on a goal by Nicolas Anelka that deflected into the net off defender Sean St. Ledger.

France became the 31st team to reach next year’s 32-nation tournament, with only the Uruguay-Costa Rica playoff series yet to be decided. That game is later this afternoon in Montevideo, Uruguay, with the South Americans holding a 1-0 advantage after the first match in San Jose, Costa Rica. Check back here for the final result.

In all today, Algeria, Greece, Slovenia, Portugal and France have qualified for the World Cup. See earlier posts.

-- Grahame L. Jones

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