Eric Cantona has claimed that he would have punched Thierry Henry on the pitch if he was one of the Ireland players.

Henry handled the ball twice before setting up a goal for William Gallas during extra-time in the play-offs match against Ireland. France qualified for next summer's World Cup instead of Ireland as a result of the disputed goal.

According to The Sun, the Manchester United and France legend has claimed that he is more shocked with Ireland's lack of fighting spirit than Henry's handball.

Cantona said: "What shocks me the most quite frankly, is not the hand-ball.

"What shocks me the most is that this player, at the end of the game, in front of the TV cameras, went to sit down next to an Ireland player to comfort him - when he had just screwed him."

After the full time whistle, Henry went to console Ireland defender Richard Dunne .

Cantona added: "If I had been an Irishman, he wouldn't have lasted three seconds."