AP
Friday, October 21, 2005
PARIS (AP) - France striker Thierry Henry wants to play against Costa Rica in Martinique. Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger definitely doesn't want him to.
But the 56-year-old Frenchman won't stand in Henry's way for the friendly on Nov 9, despite calling the match "scandalous" and "noxious."
Wenger is angry because the game on the French Caribbean island involves a 17-hour round trip. Three days later, France host Germany at Stade de France.
"They just do whatever they want, as usual," Wenger told sports daily L'Equipe yesterday, referring to the French soccer federation. "It's absolutely scandalous, inexplicable. But I expected nothing better. The clubs must be disgusted. You should see the state of the players when we get them back after an international."
Henry, who scored a club-record 186th goal for Arsenal against Sparta Prague on Tuesday after more than a month out with injury, wants to play in the game.
"It would be an immense pleasure to play in Martinique," Henry said. "I can't see myself missing this match. I've already been asked enough times why France has never played in the Caribbean."
