Full-Time Update: France 1-1 Ireland - Extra-Time Strike From Gallas Secures Les Bleus World Cup Place

France have drawn 1-1 with the Republic of Ireland their World Cup 2010 play-off 2nd-leg match at the Stade de France in Paris on Wednesday evening to secure a place in the World Cup Finals.

The match went to extra-time after Robbie Keane scored in the first-half to bring the aggregate scores level on the night.

But a contentious leveller from France in the first period of extra-time brought the scores level at 1-1, with Ireland trying hard to score in the last fifteen minutes of extra-time.

But France held on to the draw to secure a place in next summers World Cup Finals, much to the consternation of the irish players and fans alike.

Les Bleus had a 1-0 aggregate lead from the first-leg after Nicolas Anelka scored for France in the second-half of the first-leg at Croke Park on Saturday.

But Ireland pulled the aggregate scores level in the first-half of the second-leg with a strike from Robbie Keane to make it 1-0 on the night and to take the game into extra-time.

But France levelled the scores in the first period of extra-time after a contentious goal from Les Bleus.

William Gallas brought the scores level in the 13th minute of extra-time, bundling home a Thierry Henry cross from close-range with his head to make it 1-1, with all the Republic of Ireland players appealing to the referee for a handball after Henry blatantly handled the ball before crossing to Gallas.

Despite their appeals, the goal stood and France took a 2-1 aggregate lead.

Ireland worked hard to try and get a goal to take the game to penalties, but despite a last-gasp attempts, France held on to secure a place in the World Cup Finals.

Ireland head coach Giovanni Trapatoni has named an unchanged side from the first-leg, with Spurs striker and Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane starting alongside Kevin Doyle in attack, with Liam Lawrence also starting for Giovanni Trapatoni's side.

Manchester United defender John O'Shea starts with Aston Villa centre-back Richard Dunne, with Shay Given in goal.

For France, Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka started alongside former Arsenal star Thierry Henry in attack, with Arsenal's Bacary Sagna and Lassana Diarra also starting, with Man United's Patrice Evra also hoping to help his side seal a place in the World Cup Finals in South Africa next summer.

Despite France having commanded the first-leg in Ireland, this time Ireland dominated the opening period of the second-leg and managed to bring the aggregate scores level at 1-1 with a strike from Ireland skipper Robbie Keane to level the aggregate scores.

The Tottenham Hotspur forward latched on to a cross from Fulham winger Damien Duff, with Keane sliding the ball past Lloris to make it 1-0 on the night and to bring the aggregate scores level at 1-1.

Ireland continued to press in the early stages of the second-half, but France started to make chances of their own as the second-half progressed, but were denied by some excellent defending from Ireland.

The game went into extra-time, with France dominating the first period of extra-time and having a penalty call waved away by the Swedish referee after Nicolas Anelka went down in the area.

But France managed to equalise in a debatable goal in the 13th minute of extra-time, with William Gallas heading home a Thierry Henry cross from close-range with his head to make it 1-1.

But, on replay, Henry was seen to blatantly handle the ball before crossing to Gallas, with all the Republic of Ireland players appealing to the referee for the goal to be disallowed.

Despite Ireland trying their hardest to score a second goal to win the tie, France held on to secure a place in the World Cup Finals in South Africa next summer.

Ireland will feel hard done by to have lost their chance to secure a place in the finals, while France, who probably were the better team over the two legs, will be happy to have qualified.

France v Republic of Ireland World Cup 2010 Play-Off Full Teamsheets:

France Team: Lloris, Sagna, Escude (Squillaci, 9), Gallas, Evra, Lassana Diarra, Alou Diarra, Henry, Gourcuff (Malouda, 88), Anelka, Gignac (Govou, 57).

France Substitutes Not Used: Remy, Sissoko, Benzema, Mandanda.

Republic of Ireland Team: Given, O'Shea (McShane, 67), St Ledger, Dunne, Kilbane, Lawrence (McGeady, 107), Whelan (Gibson, 63), Andrews, Duff, Doyle, Keane.

Republic of Ireland Substitutes Not Used: Kelly, Murphy, Hunt, Best.