Henry was already a 33 year old player and had a secondary role in his last season as a Barça player, but the deal that took in that World Cup he was not worthy of a legend like him. “I could be the big brother, but I wasn't. My colleagues did not speak to me as before, “he admitted himself days later, when he stated that he felt sidelined.
He had 18 minutes against Uruguay, none against Mexico and 35 the day from his farewell to South Africa, the same rival against whom he debuted with the national team bleu in 1997. Not without Anelka, nor knowing that it would be Henry's last game, Domenech wanted to start, although that June 22 he reached 17 World Cup matches, a record for his team.
But Thierry it was one legend in the country and that Domenech could not control. With no time to leave the suitcase at home, not even 48 hours after falling to South Africa, Henry would be received at 12:30 by Nicolas Sarkozy. From the Elysium an official statement was issued indicating that the meeting was “private order” and that it was “the own player the one who wanted talk to the president“This also led to their respective controversy, since it coincided with the protests against delaying retirement age and that same day canceled a meeting with a NGO.