DUBLIN: The Irish press were in a gloomy mood Sunday over the country's chances of World Cup qualification, the day after losing 1-0 to France in their first leg play-off at Croke Park.

A Nicolas Anelka goal, dubbed "the most unluckiest of deflections off the heel of Sean St Ledger" by the Sunday Independent, gave France a crucial win as the 1998 world champions and 2006 runners-up gained the upper-hand.

"It was heart-breaking... Ireland let chance slip as French steal ahead," the newspaper estimated, adding that to reach the finals in South Africa next year they will need "to be clutching a magic wand" in Paris on Wednesday.

"The indications that Ireland felt they had blown their chance were clear when the two teams had to be separated at the final whistle."

The Irish Times estimated that France coach Raymond Domenech is "now holding all the aces" after "a cruel deflection made a tough job immeasurably harder."

"Now we must storm the Bastille next Wednesday," proclaimed the Sunday World tabloid.

"Ireland's World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread and in need of a fiery revolution of their own after being put to the sword on home soil."

Regretting an "unlucky" reversal, The Sunday Tribune believes the Irish can still take advantage of an apparent disunity among the France squad which the newspaper dubbed "Les Miserables".

"For all the talent of this French side, there is disharmony off the pitch under Raymond Domenech and disunity on it. If it stays that way, Ireland can overcome the odds."