SHAY Given has slammed Thierry Henry for wrecking his World Cup dreams.

The 33-year-old Republic of Ireland keeper, the senior man in the current squad, represented his country in the Far East in 2002, and had high hopes of doing so again in South Africa next summer.

With those now in tatters after Henry's handball led to William Gallas' extra-time winner on Wednesday night, Given fears he will be too old when the 2014 World Cup is held in Brazil.

"It could be the last time, it could be," said the Blues stopper. "I don't know what's around the corner, I don't know if I will make another one, and that makes it even more heart-breaking.

"I have only played in one and we were the better team against France and deserved to go to the World Cup. But we are not going, so it is hard to take.

"I don't know if he [the referee] spoke to the fourth official or the linesman or someone. It was so blatant and we were so strongly protesting because we just felt somebody must have seen it, it was so blatant.

"How he didn't see it was beyond belief - maybe he did see it, I don't know.

"The seeding thing was bad enough, but then to go out of a World Cup like this is extremely hard to take.

"We do feel as if we have been cheated, not to go to the World Cup finals.

"He [Henry] cheated to win the game. I don't often say that, but that's how it was.

"He clearly cheated and they won the game from that."

Henry initially indicated the ball had hit his chest, exactly the view taken by Mr Hansson, although Given greeted the suggestion with a snort of derision.

He said: "I have seen the replays - he stopped it and then he pulled it in again.

"You saw it at the time - I don't know if you have seen my reaction, but it was so blatant, it wasn't even close to his chest or anything.

"The ref tried to say it was his chest - it was nowhere near his chest. It was disgusting.

"It's a disgrace, to be honest. How the ref or the lineman can't see it is absolutely ridiculous.

"I never normally have a go at referees or linesmen, but it is so blatant, it's disgusting.

"He handballed it twice - he stopped it and then pulled it back in. It's remarkable.

"We feel cheated by both Henry and the officials. It's disgusting.

"We were the better team and we are going home with nothing. In a few weeks, UEFA and (Michel) Platini will be happy up in the stands or wherever they will be.

"France are going to the World Cup, they are a big nation and we as a small nation have been cheated not to go to the World Cup."

The result was all the more difficult to take because Ireland had turned in their best display in years to take the lead through Robbie Keane's 32nd-minute strike, and then threatened to win the tie outright inside normal time as they created a series of excellent chances.

As difficult as it was to reflect upon the positives of a desperately disappointing night in Paris, Given was able to cast one eye to the future.

He said: "The good thing is that in both legs, I felt we were the better team, and that gives you great belief and great spirit for the future and for the European qualifiers now.

"I know it's hard to talk about that now - all we are thinking about is the World Cup - but the team showed last night, we should have beaten France with the chances we created.

"We had some great chances and had we scored a second, the tie would have been over."