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SOCCER WORLD CUP PLAY-OFF:THIERRY HENRY considered ending his international career during the furore that surrounded his handball against Ireland in the World Cup play-off in Paris last week. Interviewed by his former France team-mate Bixente Lizarazu on RTL radio last night, Henry also defended his celebration of the disputed goal and denied that he waited for Fifa to rule out a replay last week before issuing his statement declaring that another match would be the fairest outcome.

Asked by Lizarazu whether he considered retiring from the international side while he was being vilified for his double-handball in the build-up to William Gallas’s decisive goal at the Stade de France, he said: “I thought about it. At the time, it wasn’t easy.”