The Handball Heard 'Round the World

The World Cup field is set after a series of matches yesterday, none more anticipated than Ireland and France playing for one of the final spots in the tournament. The fact that with a loss on Wednesday, France – the 1998 winner and 2006 runner-up – would be watching from home is nearly unimaginable. Well, thanks to French superstar Thierry Henry, we don't have to worry about that. Let's give the guy a hand for some quick thinking… And this was in extra time. The header by William Gallas tied the game, but put France ahead on aggregate and into the World Cup. It's one of the most blatant handballs in the history of the sport and has already been compared to Mardaona's Hand of God goal in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup. It's not an overstatement to say that Henry's handball could change the course of soccer around the world, forever. It's so amazing and egregious an oversight by the referee and linesmen that, u...