French demise no solace for Shay

SHAY GIVEN admits he took little consolation from France’s abysmal World Cup campaign.

The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper admits he is still to come to terms with Thierry Henry’s controversial handball which help deprive him and his colleagues a place in the tournament.

Since then, though, the gods refused to smile on Raymond Domenech and his team, who exited the World Cup in tatters on Tuesday having finished bottom of Group A behind Uruguay, Mexico and South Africa.

He recalled: “I was just going to put the ball down for the free-kick. I couldn’t believe the referee pointed toward the half-way line. It was so blatant. The linesman was looking directly across. We felt so hard done by. It was such a horrific decision that was followed by a shambles after, with Sepp Blatter coming out and rubbing salt in the wounds.”

Given was speaking in Letterkenny at the promotion of the FAI’s Vantage Club ticket scheme for the new Aviva Stadium.

But watching the French implode has done little to improve Given’s mood. He said: “It was tough to watch France the way they were out there. That they didn’t get on too well kicked us in the private parts even more. I’d love to play in the next World Cup when I’m 38.”

The Lifford native is hopeful of returning to first-team action for both his club Manchester City, as well as Ireland, who open their Euro 2012 qualifiers in Yerevan against Armenia in September.

Given was forced to miss the last three games of City’s season after requiring surgery on a dislocated shoulder sustained at the Emirates in April.

“It’s going well,” Given said of his recovery. “It’s responded well since the operation and I will see the specialist again on July 8. I’m doing a lot of gym work but would like to push on getting some more goalkeeping work under my belt. Starting the season with Manchester City is a reasonable aim.

“I probably shouldn’t have played against Arsenal. I hurt myself against Manchester United the week beforehand and with a sore shoulder all week I hadn’t trained.

“The club physio told me that there was a chance that I might dislocate my shoulder, but being Irish and being from Donegal maybe I was a bit stubborn, I played.”