Villarreal playmaker Robert Pires has expressed his shame at fellow countryman and former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry' blatant handball against the Republic of Ireland in their World Cup play-off.

With a lacklustre Les Bleus trailing 1-0 in extra-time, Barcelona striker Thierry Henry seized on a Florent Malouda free-kick, blatantly and deliberately handling the ball before squaring for defender William Gallas to head home.

The 1-1 draw meant that Raymond Domenech's men progressed to the next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa at the expense of the luckless Irish, 2-1 on aggregate.

Henry's actions have been universally condemned by the footballing world and now his close friend Pires is the latest to criticise him over his shameful piece of cheating, admitting that he is struggling to come to terms with his actions.

"There is no taking back the bad thing he's done. Thierry isn't a cheat but I cannot bring myself to celebrate the fact that we are in the World Cup because of how we got there," he told The Sun.

"How can you be pleased with qualifying like this," the 36 year-old added.

'Bob' spent a glorious six seasons alongside his mercurial compatriot in North London and is well aware that the Gunners' all-time leading goalscorer's reputation will forever be tarnished by his dishonest actions.

"They are saying that Titi needn't bother going back to Ireland or England and whether the Irish ever accept his apologies I'm not sure," he said.

"But I do believe that this thing he did will follow him forever, wherever he goes."