A controversial goal in extra time by defender William Gallas sent France to next year's World Cup with a 2-1 aggregate playoff win over Ireland.

Captain Thierry Henry appeared to handle the ball twice before feeding Gallas, who bundled home from close range on 103 minutes to give France a 1-1 draw in the return leg at the Stade de France.

The Ireland players protested but Swedish referee Martin Hansson did not hesitate to award the goal, enabling the World Cup runners-up to book a trip to next year's finals in South Africa after a shaky qualifying campaign.

Ireland captain Robbie Keane had put the visitors ahead and levelled the tie at 1-1 on aggregate shortly after the half-hour, tapping home from inside the box a fine backward pass from the left by winger Damien Duff.

France, who won the first leg 1-0 at Croke Park on Saturday, looked nervous and clumsy until the closing stages while Ireland kept pushing and had the better chances.

The home side, who lost central defender Julien Escude, injured in a clash of heads with team mate Patrice Evra, after just a few minutes, looked vulnerable at the back for most the game and showed little initiative up front.

Ireland bravely tried their luck and would have enjoyed a better fate without a string of brilliant saves from France keeper Hugo Lloris, who heard the 79,000 crowd packing the arena where France lifted the World Cup in 1998 chant his name.

The first two clear chances were for Ireland shortly before the half-hour, first when Lloris dived in front of Keane, lurking in the box. Seconds later, Kevin Doyle headed the ball wide from close range.

France survived another scare on 73 minutes, Keane rushing into the area and past Lloris put then pushing the ball too far.

It was not until extra time that France woke up, threatening with an angled shot by Nicolas Anelka that went just wide. Substitute forward Govou then hit the back of the net but was ruled offside.

After Gallas scored a goal certain to stir a heated debate, Govou, alone in front of an open goal, missed the target.

Seconds later, the crowd went wild and France coach Raymond Domenech, under heavy criticism since his side's Euro 2008 flop, could breathe a sigh of relief.