Former France defender William Gallas has hit out at the treatment given to his former teammate Thierry Henry although he has said Republic of Ireland will be desperate for revenge when they face Les Bleus at Euro 2016 on Sunday.
The sides' meeting in Lyon brings back memories of the World Cup qualifying playoff in November 2009 which France won in hugely controversial circumstances when Henry's handball set up Gallas to score the decisive goal.
The incident led to an international outcry but seven years on Gallas, now 38, believes Henry was unfairly branded a cheat.
"I find it regrettable the extent to which Thierry was attacked for the incident. It is even more of a shame that the attacks came from French media and pundits," the now-retired Gallas said in an interview with sports daily L'Equipe.
"When I heard certain people say they were ashamed ... The referee didn't see the handball, that was all. It was as if he missed a foul in the penalty box."
Gallas likened the incident to Luis Suarez's handball on the line at the World Cup in South Africa the following year that helped Uruguay qualify for the semifinals at Ghana's expense.
"I don't think there was such a ferocious campaign against Luis Suarez when his handball on the line stopped Ghana from scoring," Gallas, who said he will be at the game on Sunday, added.
"They will be out for revenge. I am sure that their coach will talk to them about 2009. They have not forgotten."
Gallas' views were echoed by Alou Diarra, who also played for France that evening and who is now at Charlton Athletic in England.
"Of course it will be a source of motivation for them. The Irish have still not digested it. They want revenge. They have pride, character and, especially, good memories," the 34-year-old said.
The Irish have tried to play down suggestions that they will be out to avenge what happened that night, after which the Football Association of Ireland received a payment of €5 million (£4m) from FIFA, allegedly to prevent them from seeking legal redress.
After Wednesday's dramatic win over Italy Robbie Keane said it was time to "move on." Keane played in the game along with Shay Given, Glenn Whelan, Aiden McGeady and John O'Shea, all of whom are members of Martin O'Neill's 23-man squad at the Euros.
"It's well and truly done now, but it's a chance to rewrite a bit of history," Sunderland centre-back O'Shea said.
"With the amount of assistant referees we're going to have on the pitch and behind the goal, there won't be another incident like that. With goal-line technology as well, you'd be hoping that nothing like that would spoil the occasion."