DOMENECH DENIES CLAIMS OF BLAZING ROW WITH FRANCE CAPTAIN HENRY.

FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech played down reports that he and skipper Thierry Henry had a blazing row ahead of Saturday night's World Cup play-off victory over the Republic of Ireland.

French media had suggested the pair had a difference of opinion at the team hotel over Patrick Vieira's absence.

However, asked about it after is side's 1-0 win at Croke Park, Domenech replied: "I always speak with Thierry Henry before any match. He's the captain of the team.

"We always have discussions and this time, light came from those discussions."

Whatever did happen, Domenech and his players left Dublin in the driving seat.

Nicolas Anelka's 72nd-minute strike handed the French a vital lead and a precious away goal to take into the second leg at the Stade de France.

However, his manager was at pains to stress that the tie is far from over as he prepared to head home.

He said: "We are only halfway through. I don't know what's going to happen, but I feel determined.

"The objective here is to qualify. There are 180 minutes - we have done 90 minutes, we have 90 minutes still to go.

"The Irish team is very much able to play, to impose themselves and to react, and we must be vigilant.

"Obviously, I prefer to be 1-0 up, but the only satisfaction at this point is to qualify."

Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni felt his side deserved more out of the game, but insisted the tie remains very much alive.

He said: "We are a little bit disappointed because for me, the right result was a draw.

"We know how strong France are with the players they have, but we have our quality, our discipline, our mentality and in the first half, the right result for me was a draw."