Soccer-Euro-Henry sounds French battle cry

By Patrick Vignal

VEVEY, Switzerland, June 14 (Reuters) - Thierry Henry sounded the French battle cry after they slumped to a 4-1 defeat by Netherlands.

Friday's triumph took the Dutch through to the Euro 2008 quarter-finals with a maximum six points from two games.

Romania have two points while France and Italy, joint bottom with one, go into their 2006 World Cup final re-run in Zurich on Tuesday knowing another defeat would spell elimination.

"We must go into that match against Italy with our heads held high and be ready to battle it out," Henry told reporters on Saturday.

"It's not the first time this group (of players) has been in this type of situation. We can get over it."

Henry ignored the pain from a thigh injury to score his 45th goal for France in Berne on Friday but it proved in vain as the Dutch turned on the style.

"We're disappointed but not depressed," said Henry. "I found it hard to sleep last night.

"It's hard to swallow but our goal remains to qualify and to win the tournament. If Romania win (against Netherlands on Tuesday) our game will count for nothing but we have to fight."

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Back after missing the opening 0-0 draw with Romania, France's all-time top scorer said he was not yet fully fit.

"I felt sore but there are moments when you have to ignore the pain and give it all you have, even though you're not 100 percent," said the striker.

France created chances against the Dutch, Henry missing a clear opening in the second half when he lifted the ball way over the bar with only keeper Edwin van der Sar to beat.

"We didn't play badly, we did have opportunities and we still lost 4-1," Henry said.

"It's difficult to accept but we were up against a team playing extremely well with a lot of confidence. Everything they tried worked."

Henry paid tribute to a Dutch side who had started off with a 3-0 win over world champions Italy.

"What they have done to us and Italy has nothing to do with luck but now we must forget about them and concentrate on our next match," said Henry.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)