体坛英语新闻：France advance to World Cup finals

PARIS, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- France qualified for the World Cup finals after a controversial 1-1 draw in a playoff second-leg match with Ireland on Wednesday.

    In the European zone match, France qualified for their fourth straight World Cup finals after collecting a 2-1 aggregate playoff win.

    Captain Thierry Henry appeared to handle the ball twice before feeding Wiliam Gallas, who scored from close range on 103 minutes to give France a 1-1 draw in the return leg at Stade de France.

France team celebrates their win against Ireland in their World Cup qualifying playoff return leg match at the Stade de France stadium in Saint Denis near Paris November 18, 2009

    Ireland captain Robbie Keane had put the visitors in the 32nd mintue and leveled the tie at 1-1 on aggregate.

    France won the first leg 1-0 at Croke Park on Saturday.