WEDNESDAY'S battle in Paris for a place in the World Cup finals will be even more intense after a bitter war of words broke out between the Irish and French camps -- and Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews has vowed to get revenge on his counterpart, Lassana Diarra.

There were unseemly scenes after the final whistle on Saturday night, an incident which Dubliner Andrews claimed was sparked by what he said was a "disrespectful comment" and warned the Real Madrid man: "All our lads are aware of it so we'll see what happens on Wednesday".

It has been reported in the French media today that Diarra called Andrews an "Irish p***k" and gloated "you're out" at the Irish players, though Blackburn Rovers man Andrews has refused to reveal exactly what was said.

But today Diarra answered back at Andrews' claims, insisting that he made no such comment and claimed that the Irish players were simply upset at having lost.

"I don't know what happened. Ireland had just lost 1-0 and they were not happy, but that is not our fault," said Diarra.

"What went on after the game happens in football, you have players who are trying to get you booked. But I didn't lose my head, there was 30 seconds after the game but after that I was calm.

"The Irish players had tried to get at us in the newspapers, looking for stories, saying 'The French said this and they said that', but now I have nothing to say to the Irish people."

Andrews was insistent that Diarra had insulted him and the Irish team with his post-match comment on the field, and it has made the Irish side even more determined to triumph in the Stade de France on Wednesday night.

Ireland trained in Malahide this morning and will fly out to Paris tomorrow. The French trained in Paris last night but there were some problems for France coach Raymond Domenech. Barcelona defender Eric Abidal will miss the second leg due to injury while Lyon star Jeremy Toulalan, who missed the first leg, is also definitely out after failing to recover from a hamstring injury. Julien Escude is likely to come in for Abidal in defence.

Irish fans began making their way to Paris this morning and Manchester United man Patrice Evra can't believe that the Irish side will have so many supporters in the Stade de France.

"It's not normal," he said. "Croke Park on Saturday was an amazing atmosphere. And to have 25,000 Irish in the Stade de France, that's just illogical."

- From Aidan Fitzmaurice in Paris