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ShareLondon: Former Ireland captain Roy Keane blamed the team's defenders and goalkeeper rather than French striker and captain Thierry Henry for the controversial goal that ended their World Cup hopes.
Henry has admitted handling the ball in an incident on Wednesday which enabled France to qualify for next year's World Cup at the expense of Ireland.
Keane, now manager of Championship (second division) side Ipswich Town, told a televised news conference on Friday: "France were there for the taking and Ireland didn't do it. Same old story.
"They can complain all they want, but France are going to the World Cup. Get over it.
"If I had been there in the dressing room after the game, I wouldn't be talking about the handball. I'd focus on why the defenders didn't clear it. They should have cleared it.
"I'd be more annoyed with my defenders and my goalkeeper than Thierry Henry. How can you let the ball bounce in your six-yard box? How can you let Thierry Henry get goalside of you? If the ball goes into the six-yard box, where the hell is my goalkeeper? These are skills and lessons you learn as a schoolboy.
"Ireland had their chances in the two games and they never took them, but it's the usual FAI [Football Association of Ireland] reaction -- 'we've been robbed, the honesty of the game...' It's rubbish."
Keane has never seen eye to eye with Irish soccer officialdom and walked out of the squad on the eve of the 2002 World Cup over his frustration at what he considered sub-standard preparations.
The former Manchester United midfielder and captain also pointed out that Ireland had benefitted from a controversial penalty in their favour in a 2-1 qualifying win over Georgia.
"It was one of the worst decisions I've ever seen, which changed the whole course of the game," he said.
"I don't remember the FAI after the game saying we should give them a replay."
