Staunton era begins in fairytale fashion

SOCCER/Managers' reaction: As honeymoons go this was like marrying for love and finding out that you'd wedded money as well. Steve Staunton left the arena with a huge grin on his face last night. Why not, it might not always be like this but it's enjoyable while it lasts, writes Tom Humphries.

The splendour of the three-goal margin was one thing, the uninhibited style of the Irish play was another. Maybe it's all about beer and skittles after all.

The Irish were loose-limbed and gambolling. Mick Byrne the national hugger, was back to gird the bonhomie of a nation, the audience fickle as fandom always is left the old era behind and rose to usher in the new.

All week the chaps have been speaking happily to their old buddies the media, a high point in the history of hackery to be made feel so welcome and the fluency continued on the field.

Damien Duff , 27 this week, submitted a performance that we'd forgotten he was capable off. He turned his hapless marker inside out a couple of times early on. His first three possessions he went outside towards the sideline. Next time he cut inside and dinked the ball into the net via a deflection and ran to hug the new manager.

So it went. It's a happy failing of all new managers to want to write over the mark of their predecessor with their own version of joined up football. Staunton in his experimental phase went for a 4-3-1-2 formation. Fancy without being smancy as they say and a rebuke perhaps to the perceived conservatism of Brian Kerr. It worked well.

Robbie Keane playing behind Stephen Elliot and Kevin Doyle, was refashioned as a sort of Zinedine Zidane figure and his goal early in the second half was a reward for hard work as much as flair.

By the time Liam Miller added an outrageous third goal driving in a Roy of the Rovers style shot from outside the Swedish area we knew we were in the land of fairytale.

Steve Staunton said as much when he came to the little bandroom in the corner of the ground. Never has a press conference promised so little contention.

"I'm absolutely delighted. To get a full house was great for everyone. I'm delighted the players gave the fans something to cheer. It went better than what I'd expected. I got what the lads were doing in training over the last days.

"The attitude was fantastic. They've set high standards and hopefully they'll go on."

New managers always enjoy the dividend of players auditioning for them with a passion that dwindles with familiarity but even in that context and allowing for Sweden's strange dolour, this was a fine performance.

"I know what they can do. They are wonderful players. They have showed us that over the last few days. They led by example especially Damien and Robbie.

"The lads on the bench gave support. It's a great dressingoom. Hopefully we'll get a few more ideas in to their heads before the summer."

The questions were a little hard to come up with. No bones to pick. No arguments to have. Somebody asked about Sweden. They're going to the World Cup.

"Sadly we're the ones not going." Said Stan. "Sometimes, though, it's hard for a team like Sweden. We know they are a top team but we made them look poor. Our attitude was good. We gave the supporters something to be happy about.

"My attitude though is that we'll have hard times. It's a bit of a fairytale tonight. We're attack minded though. We have to play to strengths. We have wonderful talented boys. That's what we'll do." New boys? we asked knowing the answer already. Gushing doesn't come easy to Dundalk people but Stan came close.

"I was delighted with the four debutants. It's a tricky pitch. They played the way we wanted. Only for a bobble here and there we might have nicked another one."

And your Grandad? Did you call him, we asked. Not really.

"Bobby is delighted. He can't believe it." Back to the Swedes. Something in our nature. If we looked so good, surely they were poor? "The Swedes? I know they are good. They'll be tough to beat in the World Cup. We take friendlies seriously. They'll be better than that in the World Cup. An away fixture, you see a full house on a cold night, bobbly pitch, not the best.

"We're used to it. No excuses. Sometimes the opposition let it get to them. I like to think we closed them down. We were on the front foot from the start." Expectations? Have they grown. At last a downside. Expectations. The crushing weight of them! "What do you think" said Stan blithely.

That was it. Some housekeeping notes about a possible home friendy in May. A mournful appearance by Swedish manager Lars Lagerbak who pointed out that it was the worst night for Sweden in long time: "There are some positive things. The match wasn't good though. We had a bad day at work. I don't think we've had such a day since 1998 against Spain. Ireland were more concentrated and more aggressive than we were. We didn't play as a team."

Outside Status Quo were on the tannoy and Mick Byrne was hugging all comers. Fairytale start. Onwards then towards the happy ending.