Puyol slams Henry

Carles Puyol has blasted Thierry Henry following Spain's World Cup exit.

Spanish star Carles Puyol was understandably upset following Spain's World Cup exit and he accused Thierry Henry of cheating.

Despite going ahead against France, the Spanish imploded and went down 3-1 in Hannover as Les Bleus booked a quarter final tie with Brazil.

"I am very unhappy about the knockout from the World Cup, principally because of the illusion we had given to the fans," he said.

"There is pain, but in football you get these things."

Puyol was unhappy about the foul that was given against him on Henry, which led to France's second goal from Patrick Vieira.

"The foul that provoked the game to become 2-1 was not true," he bemoaned.

"Henry is a star, a very intelligent one and he tricked the referee - the decision was unjust.

"France are not superior to us, they only played a type of match to counter-attack.

"I believed in Spain, but the reality is hard.

"My season was positive with Barcelona but now with Spain it is unhappy."

Henry was quick to deny any wrong doing over the incident with Puyol. 

"I don't cheat. People can say whatever they want to say, but if any team has been cheated since the beginning of the tournament it's France," he said.

"Look at the replay, their left-back was going to take the ball and Puyol came across me and blocked me.

"Puyol came up to me afterwards and apologised so how is that cheating? Spain's left-back Mariano Pernia was going to win the ball, so I don't know why Puyol cut across me, but he did.

"If that's basketball that's a good block, but we're not playing basketball. In my head I'm not a guy who does go down or cheats."