It really bothers me when people justify poor or illegal behaviour because "everyone else would do it." No, not everyone else would do it in that situation and should this really be the lesson we're teaching kids as they grow up? That they can do whatever they want, but only if they think "everyone else would do it"?
Yes, it was a high stakes game, but there are a lot of high stakes "games" in life. Is it okay to cheat on your test just so you can get into "x" college? Or lie on your resume to get that one job you really want? Anyone else in your position would do it...so it must be okay.
Maybe it's just me, but I would never do something like that intentionally and I certainly would not be able to handle myself well knowing I cheated to get where I was and that I'd potentially screwed someone more deserving out of the opportunity to do so. Any respect I may have had for Thierry Henry as an athlete is pretty much gone and I feel he's insulted the integrity of the game, just as I would with any player who blatantly cheats to get the outcome they want. That's not honestly playing for the love of the game; that's playing for the check at the end or the fame.
Incidentally, this event is something where a video review would have come in handy. Allow 1 challenge or review per team, per half of a questionable play that results in a goal. Play is already stopped, five minutes to check the video footage in a high stakes game is hardly much to ask for when you consider the aftermath of this game.
Anyway, sorry for the rant...this is just something that really gets to me in life, lol.
