Hodgson admits Duff angst

Fulham wide man "badly affected" by play-off elimination

Last updated: 20th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hodgson admits Duff angst

Duff: Emotional night in Paris

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Roy Hodgson admits Damien Duff has been badly affected by Republic of Ireland's controversial failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Wednesday night's play-off with France has occupied the back pages and airwaves after Thierry Henry's now infamous handball put paid to Irish dreams of South Africa.

The former Arsenal favourite has admitted his guilt and suggested the only fair outcome would be to replay the game in Paris, but Fifa is adamant the result will stand.

Henry's obvious handball before laying the ball on for William Gallas' leveller on the night went undetected by the match officials, as Ireland crashed out despite a valiant effort in the French capital.

Duff was booked for his remonstrations and Hodgson concedes that having spoken to the winger, who played the full 120 minutes, his player is still down about the whole affair.

Fulham full-back Stephen Kelly was also in Ireland's squad but did not figure, with Hodgson revealing it is Duff who has most felt the result.

"They are very disappointed of course, particularly Damien, who is a little older than Steven and has played 70-something international matches," he told Sky Sports News.

"To be so close, when he came back he was really badly affected.

"But they are intelligent footballers and no there is no other option unfortunately but to get over it and wait for the pain to pass.

"It will take a long time for the pain to pass because to be close to a World Cup and then not get there, on a clearly wrong refereeing decision, there is nothing you can say to make that pain get any easier.

"When I spoke to him yesterday he admitted to me he was feeling very down about the whole affair, which is quite normal. But I think Damien is one of those players where when he gets out there and the ball is in front of him, he is able to get those other problems out of his mind."

He added: "Damien Duff has been through plenty of other World Cup and European Championship campaigns and it is not the first time he has been thwarted at late notice.

"He knows he's getting on to 30 years of age and I'm sure he saw this as an excellent opportunity to grasp the nettle but it has been denied."