THE HAGUE (AFP) - Dutch defender Andre Ooijer conceded on Saturday that he had deliberately handballed a shot from Thierry Henry in their Euro 2008 Group C clash with France on Friday.

The 33-year-old veteran told the website of Dutch magazine Sportweek that it should definitely have been a penalty which if converted would have brought the sides level at 1-1 - the match ended however in a 4-1 humiliation of the French.

"There should have been a penalty from Thierry Henry's shot," said the Blackburn Rovers defender.

"I stopped the ball with my hand.

"Without that there would have certainly been a goal."

Ooijer's words, though not confirmed by any other publication, supports what beleaguered French coach Raymond Domenech said earlier on Saturday.

"There was a turned down penalty appeal which could have changed the course of the match, the referee is the only one not to have seen it," said Domenech, who added that the referee (Herbert Fandel) should go out and buy some glasses.

The resounding defeat has left France needing to beat world champions Italy in Tuesday's final match to have any hope of reaching the last eight and that Romania don't defeat Holland, who have already qualified for the quarter-finals.