Thierry Henry considered ending his France career over the uproar that surrounded the striker's blatant handball in last week's World Cup playoff victory over Ireland.

"Oh yes," the France captain said in Monday's French sports daily L'Equipe when asked whether retiring from international soccer had crossed his mind.

"Friday, when it all went too far, I was very worked up."

Henry has been under fire since handling the ball in the build-up to William Gallas's equalizer that gave France a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 aggregate win.

"Despite everything that has just happened and the fact I felt let down, I will not let my country down," he said.

Henry, who issued a statement saying a replay would be the fairest solution only after FIFA said the result would stand, said he regretted the way he had celebrated the decisive goal.

"I shouldn't have done that but, frankly, it was uncontrollable, after all we had been through," he said.

The 32-year-old Henry, who has scored a French record 51 goals from 117 internationals, blamed the French Football Federation for a lack of support.

"The day after the match, and the day after that, I felt alone, really alone," he said.