Thierry Henry has admitted he considered drawing a close to his international career after being overwhelmed by the furore over his now infamous handball against the Republic of Ireland last Wednesday.

The Frenchman occupied both the front and back pages after his handball played a key part in ending the World Cup dreams of Giovanni Trapattoni and his team.

Henry twice handled the ball before laying on for William Gallas to equalise on the night, a result which saw France progress to South Africa on aggregate.

The FAI called on Fifa to replay the game and Henry, albeit after football's governing body ruled out such a scenario, echoed Irish sentiments.

Having had his previous unblemished reputation tarnished by the incident, Henry admits he considered quitting in the wake of intense criticism.

When quizzed on whether retiring from international football had crossed his mind, he told French sports daily L'Equipe

"Friday, when it all went too far, I was very worked up,” he said. "It's not the first time (that I thought about retiring). After the 2006 World Cup, I thought about it, but it was too early.

“After Euro 2008, too, but it wasn't the right moment. There was a generation that needed me.

"Despite everything that has just happened and the fact that I felt let down, I will not let my country down."

Although he has subsequently admitted his misdemeanour, Henry has received widespread criticism for the manner in which he celebrated Gallas' winner with such gusto.

The former Arsenal favourite said he regretted the way he had celebrated the decisive goal, but that it was just an outpouring of emotion.

"I shouldn't have done that but, frankly, it was uncontrollable, after all we had been through," he said. "The day after the match, and the day after that, I felt alone, really alone.

"It was only after I issued my statement that the people from the French Federation got in touch."